The free musculocutaneous tensor fascia lata flap as a backup procedure intumor surgery

The musculocutaneous tensor fascia lata (TFL) flap provides a small muscle belly and a strong fascial layer in combination with abundant skin coverage (15 x 40 cm), which makes the flap an attractive unit far composite free t issue transfer. The free TFL flap was used in nine cases of recurrent cance r of the chest wall (N = 7) and the abdominal wall (N = 2), The mean size o f the full-thickness defects after tumor excision measured 12 x 25 cm, The operating time ranged from 4 to 8 hours (mean operating time, 5.5 hours). T he operation was performed with two teams, and no repositioning of the pati ent was necessary during the operation. By raising the TFL flap, no additio nal area of the trunk was involved. The authors did not experience a prolon ged ventilation time in their group of multimorbid patients. The donor site was closed directly (4 of 9 patients) or split skin grafted (5 of 9 patien ts), There was no functional deficit. In one patient the venous anastomosis had to be revised, There were no further complications, and no flaps were lost, The hospital stay was short (21 days on average), the outcome success ful, and primary healing was obtained, The free TFL flap proved to be a rel iable flap that is easy technically to harvest, Thus the free TFL flap is a valuable backup procedure in tumor surgery.