Musculocutaneous Latissimus Dorsi Phalloplasty: Technique and Tips

Abstract

Background: Musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi (MLD) phalloplasty is a gender-affirming surgical option for transmen which permits penile prosthesis, glansplasty, and urethral extension at later stages. This surgery allows for a neophallus of adequate length and girth, and minimal donor site morbidity, but is technically complex.

Objective: This video demonstrates a step-by-step technique and tips to optimize outcomes and simplify the operation for the MLD phalloplasty.

Materials and methods: A 33-year-old transmale who previously underwent metoidioplasty presented for an MLD phalloplasty. With the patient in a supine position, the superficial femoral artery and saphenous vein are isolated at the recipient site. The patient is repositioned into a lateral flank position, the flap harvested and tubularized, and inferior aspects of the wound closed prior to harvesting the thoracodorsal artery (TDA) and thoracodorsal vein (TDV) to minimize cold ischemia time. The TDA and TDV are dissected to their root at the subscapular artery and vein. The artery is removed with a patch of the subscapular artery. The patient is initially in a supine position and then returned to a supine position to minimize ischemia time of the flap. The neophallus is attached to the previously created recipient site, and an end-to-side anastomosis is created between the superficial femoral artery and TDA and an end-to-end anastomosis between the saphenous vein and the TDV. If the patient has a thick latissimus dorsi muscle or subcutaneous fat, a split-thickness skin graft can be used to close the ventral phallus to minimize tension on the tubularized neophallus and provide a plate for a future urethral lengthening procedure. Positioning and close post-op monitoring of the neophallus are critical.

Results: A neophallus of adequate length and girth is created with the option for future urethral extension and penile prosthesis placement.

Conclusion: Our video demonstrates the technique for a gender-affirming MLD phalloplasty in a transman and tips to optimize outcomes and simplify the operation.