The lateral thoracic fasciocutaneous island flap for treatment of recurrent hidradenitis axillaris suppurativa and other axillary skin defects

A series of eight axillary skin defect reconstructions in seven patients using the lateral thoracic island fasciocutaneous flap is presented. The defects originated from wide excision of recurrent hidradenitis axillaris suppurativa and in one case from radical melanoma resection with axillary lymph node clearance. The technique used to cover the resulting large defects is advancement or transposition of an island flap from the lateral thoracic wall, pedicled on two or three nourishing vessels arising from the lateral thoracic or thoracodorsal vessels. No flap complications occurred and the results with respect to donor site morbidity, functional and aesthetic outcome were very satisfactory. (C) 2000 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.