Histologic and clinical results of reinnervation of the latissimus dorsi transfer with the thoracodorsal nerve

The authors attempted to elicit correlations between the appearance and mor phology of neuronal structures in the subcutaneous region of latissimus dor si transfers and the reestablishment of sensibility in myocutaneous transfe rs with and without neuronal anastomosis. Six patients with and six without neuronal reconstruction of latissimus dorsi transfers, through anastomosis of the large auricular nerve and the thoracodorsal nerve of the transfer w ere followed-up clinically and histologically. Clinical examination establi shed the sensibility of the transferred tissue. Histologic examination demo nstrated changes in the relative number of fascicles, the degree of myelini zation, fibrosis, and degree of scarring. In patients with nerve anastomosi s, sensibility was established more frequently with a lessening of scarring and fibrosis of the fascicle, compared to patients without anastomosis. A clear advantage of neuronally anastomosed latissimus dorsi transfers, compa red to transfers without anastomosis, was determined clinically and histolo gically.