Background Perforator flaps surgery barely damages underlying muscle function, but only clinical qualitative evidences exist about muscle preservation after surgical dissection. We have employed for the first time electromyography and nerve conduction studies in evaluating the latissimus dorsi electrical muscle function after thoraco-dorsal artery perforator flap dissection in a retrospective cohort study. Methods We included ten consecutive patients requiring axillary reconstruction with thoraco-dorsal artery perforator flap, from June 2017 to June 2018. All patients were suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa. Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS) were conducted on each patient, both before and after the operation. Differences between pre-and postoperative amplitude and latency values were calculated. Results Postoperative signal amplitude and latency means did not differ significantly from the preoperative one. Operative time and area of excision did not correlate with changes of electrical function. Conclusions This is the first quantitative analysis performed for the evaluation of muscle electrical activity after perforator flap surgery. Perforator pedicle intra-muscular dissection does not cause any injury to the muscle fibers. TDAP flap confirms to be a safe procedure for latissimus dorsi muscle function. Level of evidence: Level III, therapeutic study.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.