The hemideltoid muscle flap

The deltoid muscle is a reliable source of well-vascularized tissue for bulk to obliterate wounds that particularly involve the adjacent glenohumeral joint. A homologue of the gluteus maximus muscle, the deltoid muscle also has two independent dominant vascular pedicles, making this a type III muscle flap. Consequently, the muscle can be split vertically into two halves to form hemideltoid flaps, with the undisturbed portion still remaining innervated to preserve its function as a major arm abductor-an important point because this muscle as a whole is not usually considered expendable. Because of its short vascular pedicle, the are of rotation is limited so that larger defects of the shoulder are covered preferably with more traditional alternatives.