The use of pedicled musculocutaneous flap of the trapezius muscle for the treatment of skin defect after two stage thoracic spine stabilisation – case report

Musculocutaneous flaps play an important role in modern reconstructive surgery. They are useful in the treatment of primary traumatic skin lesions and secondary lesions formed during complicated healing of the surgical wounds. The case of 60 years old woman undergoing complicated healing of the wound after spine surgery is presented. The patient was qualified to spine surgery due to metastatic tumour caused by the lung cancer. The use of pedicled flap facilitated healing of the wound; thus, there was no need to remove implants stabilising pathologically fractured spine. The issue of ‘reconstructive ladder’ is discussed in the paper with various treatment options. Indications, surgical technique and postoperative care are thoroughly discussed providing an overview on this valuable method of treatment which allows a successful termination of complicated wound healing process.