Total Breast Reconstruction Using the Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap without Implant.

Background: The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap was described mainly
for partial breast reconstruction by Hamdi. The purpose of this article is to
describe the use of the pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap for total
autologous breast reconstruction without using an implant.
Methods: Between January of 2009 and December of 2011, seven patients
underwent total breast reconstruction with a pedicled thoracodorsal artery
perforator flap. The mean age of the patients was 53 years (range,
43 to 62 years), and the mean body mass index was 27 kg/m2 (range, 24
to 32 kg/m2).
Results: The mean size of the harvested skin paddle was 23.7 × 8.8 cm2 (range,
15 × 7 cm2 to 39 × 14 cm2). The flaps were based on one to three perforators
and successfully transferred with an average operative time of 3 hours. No
seroma occurred at the donor site. Average hospital stay was 4 days (range, 3
to 6 days). At an average follow-up of 21.5 months, two patients underwent
additional revisions using autologous fat grafting, with overall fat injection
volumes of 240 and 280 cc, respectively.
Conclusion: The pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap offers an alternative
for total autologous breast reconstruction in small to medium breasted patients
when abdominal tissues are not available.