Modern Plastic Surgery, 2012, 2, 80-82
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/mps.2012.24019 Published Online October 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/mps)
A New Method of Limb Salvage and Functional Upper
Limb Reconstruction
Ruka Shimizu1, Kazuo Kishi1, Hideo Morioka2, Hiroo Yabe2
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Email: kkishi@a7.keio.jp
Received July 18th, 2012; revised August 17th, 2012; accepted September 17th, 2012
ABSTRACT
Amputation is frequently used to treat malignant tumors invading into the shoulder joint. When the vessels and major
nerves of the upper arm are preserved, however, the limb may be salvaged with a combined osseous, myocutaneous flap.
We reconstructed large defects, which included the shoulder joint, using a vascularized rib-latissmus dorsi combined
flap. Ribs were connected via the ninth or tenth posterior intercostal artery. Several slits were cut in the ribs, and the rib
was glass stick fractured to straighten it. The thoracodorsal nerve was preserved and the latissmus dorsi muscle was
transferred to the defect previously occupied by the biceps humerus. The ribs were connected to the residual clavicle via
a Leeds-Keio artificial ligament. The flaps completely engrafted . The patient was able to flex h er elbow relatively early
postoperatively. The function of the hand was preserved intact. In conclusion, the combined vascularized rib-latissmus
dorsi flap is useful for patients who require functional or bony reconstruction of large defects involving the shoulder
joint.
Keywords: Shoulder; Vascularized Rib; Latissmus Dorsi; Elbow Flexion; Limb Salvage
1. Introduction
Amputation is frequently used to treat malignant tumors
invading into the shoulder joint. When the vessels and
major nerves of the upper arm are preserved, however,
the limb may be salvaged with a combined osseous,
myocutaneous flap. In cases where limb salvage is cho-
sen, various tissues including muscle, skin, and bone may
be required depen di n g o n the extent o f the defect .
In such cases, flaps based on the thoracodorsal artery
will fulfill most of the closure requirements. Large flaps
may be created around this artery, which supplies the
latissmus dorsi (LD) muscle, serratus anterior muscle,
and ribs. Flaps from this area may be structured to in-
corporate varying amounts of bone and muscle as indi-
cated by the defect. The ribs are primarily supplied by
the intercostal artery, which anastomoses with the thora-
codorsal artery in the LD muscle [1,2]. The option to
incorporate bone and soft tissue in a single pedicle has
made flaps from the thoracodorsal system popular in
reconstruction of the maxillofacial region [3,4]. The LD
is also frequently used to functionally reconstruct the
elbow joint [5- 10] .
In the present report, we describe a patient in whom a
large defect involving most of the upper arm and gleno-
humeral joint was reconstructed with the combined vas-
cularized rib-latissmus dorsi flap, resulting in successful
limb salvage.
2. Case Report
A 33-year-old woman with a right proximal humeral
chondrosarcoma underwent a radical tumor resection that
included the proximal half of the humerus, the shoulder,
the lateral one third of the clavicle, the deltoid muscle,
the triceps brachii muscle, the proximal two thirds of the
biceps brachii muscle, and the overlying skin (Figure
1(a)).
We planned the reconstruction using a vascularized
rib-latissmus dorsi flap based on the thoracod orsal artery
system (Figure 1(b)). The ninth and tenth ribs were
raised with the ninth intercostal artery (Figure 1(c)). The
ribs were partially cut with a bone saw to straighten them
and placed facing each other, then fixed with surgical
wire. They were then fixed to the residual humerus with
a titanium plate and sutured to an artificial ligament
(Leeds-Keio ligament). The other side of the artificial
ligament was fixed to the remnant of the clavicle (Fig-
ures 1(d) and (e)). The insertion of the LD was sutured
to the remnant of the biceps brachii, and the origin of the
LD was sutured to the dissected shoulder with 3 - 0 po-
lyglactin 910 (Vycryl, Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ)
Copyright © 2012 SciRes. MPS
A New Method of Limb Salvage and Functional Upper Limb Reconstruction 81
Artificial
ligame nt
Titanium plate
Figure 1. (a) Defect following resection of the tumor. The axillary artery, axillary vein, and axillary nerve were maintained.
The distal one third of the biceps brachii was preserved. C: clavicle, S: scapula, AA: axillary artery, B: biceps brachii; (b)
Design of the flap. The ninth and tenth ri bs were included in the flap; (c) View from the deep side after raising the flap; (d)
Schematic view of the reconstruction. The ribs and residual clavicle were sutured to the Leeds-Keio ligament; (e) The ribs
and residual humerus bone were fixed with a titanium plate. AL: artificial ligament. P: titanium plate; (f) Schematic view of
the setting of the LD. The thoracodorsal nerve was preserved and the origin of the LD was sutured to the remnant of the
shoulder. The insertion of the LD was sutured to the remnant of the biceps brachii; (g), (h) Front and side views five years
postoperatively. X-ray image of the reconstructed upper arm. The fused ribs are nearly straight; (i), (j) The maximum flexion
of the elbow was 120 degrees, and function of the hand was almost completely intact.
(Figure 1(f)). The flap healed without any necrosis. The
flexion of the elbow recovered shortly after the surgery.
Six months postoperatively, non-union was observed
between the ribs and the humerus. Thus a free bone graft
was added around the non-union. Five years after the
primary operation, the ribs were nearly straight (Figures
1(g) and (h)). The function of the hand was preserved,
and the flexion of the elbow was possible to 120 degrees
(Figures 1(i) and (j)).
3. Discussion
This is the first report describing the use of a combined
vascularized rib-LD flap for the reconstruction of a muscle
and bone defect simultaneously following a radical resection
involving most of the upper arm and glenohumeral joint.
If the shoulder joint is preserved, its function may be
improved by multiple muscle transfer [11]. It is still not
possible, however, to completely reconstruct a functional
shoulder joint at the time of radical resection involving
the joint. In such cases where some distal neuromuscular
function in the arm or hand may be possible, merely re-
storing the function of elbow flexion results in significant
improvements in a patient’s quality of life. In an upper
limb reconstruction, the LD muscle is frequently used to
restore elbow flexion [5-10,12]. In the cases requiring
reconstruction of the biceps brachii, transfer of the LD
without disrupting its innervation will restore elbow
flexion. In the present case, the functional recovery of the
biceps brachii muscle was observed in the early postop-
erative period. Only one third of the patient’s biceps
brachii muscle was retained. Therefore, much of the elbow
flexion was mediated by the transposed LD muscle.
When reconstructing the long bones, the fibula is fre-
quently used [8,13,14]. The lower leg, however, lacks
sufficient soft tissue to reconstruct large muscular defects
that may also be present. The vascularized rib is also
sometimes chosen for reconstruction of the long bones
[15,16]. Use of a rib permits the concurrent reconstruc-
tion of soft tissue defects with the LD muscle, particu-
larly when restoration of elbow flexion is also desired.
The curve of the rib sometimes limits its use in long bone
reconstruction. The rib may be straightened, however, by
Copyright © 2012 SciRes. MPS
A New Method of Limb Salvage and Functional Upper Limb Reconstruction
82
creating a glass stick fracture and suturing the rib to-
gether in a fashion that straightens it but does not com-
promise its strength.
The ability of the reconstructed shoulder joint to sup-
port the weight of the arm was another concern in our
case. The Leed-Keio ligament is made of polyester woven
into an open mesh-like structure [17]. After implantation,
longitudinally aligned collagen-fiber bundles with spin-
dle-shaped nuclei form over the polyester matrix [18,19].
Use of this material permitted the strength of the artificial
joint to be preserved even after five years in our case.
Our report illustrates that the combined vascularized
rib-LD flap is useful in the reconstruction of large soft
tissue and bony defects that involve the upper limb and
the glenohumeral joint.
REFERENCES
[1] K. Kawamura, H. Yajima, Y. Tomita, Y. Kobata, K.
Shigematsu and Y. Takakura, “Restoratio n of Elbow Fu nc-
tion with Pedicled Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap
Transfer,” Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Vol.
16, No. 1, 2007, pp. 84-90. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2006.03.006
[2] K. Onishi and Y. Maruyama, “Compound Rib-Latissimus
Dorsi Osteomusculocutaneous Flap in Reconstruction of
the Upper Arm,” Annals of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 36, 1996,
pp. 191-194. doi:10.1097/00000637-199608000-00014
[3] C. H. Lin, F. C. Wei, L, S, Levin, J. Su, K. F. Fan, W. L.
Yeh and D. T. Hsu, “Free Composite Serratus Anterior
and Rib Flaps for Tibial Composite Bone and Soft-Tissue
Defect,” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vol. 99, No.
6, 1997, pp. 1656-1665.
doi:10.1097/00006534-199705000-00028
[4] M. D. Vekris, A. E. Beris, M. G. Lykissas, A. V. Ko-
rompilias, A. D. Vekris and P. N. Soucacos, “Restoration
of Elbow Function in Severe Brachial Plexus Paralysis
via Muscle Transfers,” Injury, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2008, pp.
S15-S22. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2008.06.008
[5] L. De Smet, “The Latissimus Dorsi Flap for Reconstruc-
tion of a Paralysed Deltoid,” Acta Chirurgica Belgica,
Vol. 104, 2004, pp. 328-329.
[6] K. Fujikawa, F. Iseki and B. B. Seedhom, “Arthroscopy
after Anterior Cruciate Reconstruction with the Leeds-
Keio Ligament,” Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Brit-
ish Volume, Vol. 71, No. 4, 1989, pp. 566-570.
[7] Y. Maruyama, K. Onishi, Y. Iwahira, Y. Okajima and M.
Motegi, “Free Compound Rib-Latissimus Dorsi Osteo-
musculocutaneous Flap in Reconstruction of the Leg,”
Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Vol. 3, No. 1,
1986, pp. 13-18. doi:10.1055/s-2007-1007032
[8] T. Schoeller, G. Wechselberger, H. Hussl and G. M.
Huemer, “Functional Transposition of the Latissimus
Dorsi Muscle for Biceps Reconstruction after Upper Arm
Replantation,” Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aes-
thetic Surgery, Vol. 60, No. 7, 2007, pp. 755-759.
doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2006.11.032
[9] D. C. Sundaresh, D. Gopalakrishnan and N. Shetty,
“Vascularised Rib Graft Defects of the Diaphysis of the
Humerus in Children. A Report of Two Cases,” Journal
of Bone & Joint Surgery, British Volume, Vol. 82, 2000,
pp. 28-32. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.82B1.9678
[10] S. Yazar, C. H. Lin and F. C. Wei, “One-Stage Recon-
struction of Composite Bone and Soft-Tissue Defects in
Traumatic Lower Extremities,” Plastic and Reconstruc-
tive Surgery, Vol. 114, No. 6, 2004, pp. 1457-1466.
doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000138811.88807.65
[11] J. E. Aviv, M. L. Urke n and C. Vickery, H. Weinberg, D.
Buchbinder and H. F. Biller, “The combined latissimus
dorsi-scapular free flap in head and neck reconstruction,”
Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Vol.
117, No. 11, 1991, No. 1242-1250.
doi:10.1001/archotol.1991.01870230058008
[12] S. O’Ceallaigh, K. S. A. Mehboob Ali and T. P. F. O’ Co n -
nor, “Functional Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Transfer to Re-
store Elbow Flexion in Extensive Electrical Burns,” Burns,
Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 113-115.
doi:10.1016/j.burns.2004.06.017
[13] E. Nomura, M. Inoue and H. Sugiura, “Histological
Evaluation of Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Recon-
structed Using the Leeds-Keio Ligament Prosthesis,”
Biomaterials, Vol. 26, No. 15, 2005, pp. 2663-2670.
doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.07.053
[14] C. H. Lin, F. C. Wei, H. C. Chen and D. C. Chuang,
“Outcome Comparison in Traumatic Lower-Extremity
Reconstruction by Using Various Composite Vascula-
rized Bone Transplantation,” Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery, Vol. 104, No. 4, 1999, pp. 984-992.
doi:10.1097/00006534-199909040-00013
[15] T. D. Pierce and M. M. Tomaino, “Use of the Pedicled
Latissimus Muscle Flap for Upper-Extremity Reconstruc-
tion,” Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons, Vol. 8, No. 5, 2000, pp. 324-331.
[16] Y. K. Tu, C. Y. Yen, W. L. Yeh, I. C. Wang, K. C. Wang
and W. N. Ueng, “Reconstruction of Posttraumatic Long
Bone Defect with Free Vascularized Bone Graft: Good
Outcome in 48 Patients with 6 Years’ Follow-Up,” Acta
Orthopaedica Scandinavica, Vol. 72, No. 4, 2001, pp.
359-364. doi:10.1080/000164701753542014
[17] P. D. Kim and K. E. Blackwell, “Latissimus-Serratus-Rib
Free Flap for Oromandibular and Maxillary Reconstruc-
tion,” Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Sur-
gery, Vol. 133, No. 8, 2007, pp. 791-795.
doi:10.1001/archotol.133.8.791
[18] P. J. Stern and J. P. Carey, “The Latissimus Dorsi Flap
for Reconstruction of the Brachium and Shoulder,” The
Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Vol. 70, No. 4, 1988,
pp. 526-535.
[19] S. Zaffagnini, G. M. Marcheggiani Muccioli, V. Chatrath,
A. Bondi, V. De Pasquale, D. Martini, B. Bacchelli and
M. Marcacci, “Histological and Ultrastructural Evaluation
of Leeds-Keio Ligament 20 Years after Implant: A Case
Report,” Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthro-
scopy, Vol. 16, No. 11, 2008, pp. 1026-1029.
doi:10.1007/s00167-008-0608-9
Copyright © 2012 SciRes. MPS