Radial Artery Pedicle Flap To Cover Exposed Mesh After Abdominal Wound Dehiscence-An Easy Solution To A Difficult Problem

Abstract

Abdominal wall dehiscence poses a difficult problem to treat. It is ever difficult to treat an exposed mesh when it is utmost important to retain it to give strength to the abdominal wall. Many flaps have described in literature. Each flap has limited area of reach on the abdominal wall.A 55 year old thin built man had undergone operation for perforation peritonitis. Post operatively the wound gaped exposing bowel. Closure of burst abdomen was done by a mesh 30X30 cm. After 3 days of operation abdominal wound again developed superficial dehiscence, skin margins necrosed leaving a gap of 13X 7 cm of exposed mesh.A radial artery pedicled flap planned from the left forearm was used to cover the exposed mesh. Flap detachment and insetting was done after 3 weeks with good aesthetic result and acceptable donor site scar.