Turbo-gracilis myocutaneous flap for perineal reconstruction

The turbo-gracilis flap, which has been described previously for the purpose of extending the unreliable gracilis skin island, and previously applied in forearm reanimation surgery, is now adapted for reconstruction in the perineal region. We present a case report of a patient with previous vulvar carcinoma treated with resection and radiation who presented with a very large defect of the perineal region. Reconstruction was carried out using a turbo-gracilis flap. The advantages of the flap are well demonstrated in the successful reconstruction, in that it provides an extensive amount of well-vascularized tissue due to an extended gracilis skin island which is vascularized by way of a vein graft from the proximal pedicle blood supply to a distal gracilis pedicle which, in turn, supplies the extended skin island. This allows an extensive amount of tissue to be harvested from a single donor site and ensures the viability of the skin island. A review of the advantages and disadvantages of various types of perineal reconstruction is also presented and contrasted with the turbo-gracilis method. (C) 1997 Academic Press.