Pedicled flap plasty for closure of defects after tumor recurrences in theback

Resection of recurrent tumors of the back often results in large transmural defects. Sometimes, radiation therapy is applied after the first operation , leading to indurated, badly vascularized skin and surrounding tissue, oft en complicated by infection. For this reason, it is necessary to remove not only the tumor but also the surrounding tissue. To reconstruct such wide d efects, we use large axial pattern flaps with extension through a fasciocut aneous flap. This leads to safe reconstruction of a complex defect with wel l-vascularized tissue. We report on two patients with recurrent tumors of t he back, reconstructed with combined, extended axial pattern flaps.