Extended lower trapezius myocutaneous flap to cover a deep lateral neck defect on irradiated skin: a new application

Abstract

Defects of the skin and underlying soft tissue of the neck are uncommon, and the surgeon's main objective is to achieve reliable long-term coverage of the exposed vital organs with well-vascularised tissue harvested from a distant donor site. We present a patient whose extended irradiation site together with the previous unsuccessful attempt to cover it with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, needed an extended lower trapezius myocutaneous flap, which seemed to be the only way in which to close the large and deep cervical defect.