TRANSPOSITION FLAPS

Course overview

FLAPS, IN THE SETTING OF RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, REFER TO TISSUE (GENERALLY INCLUDING SKIN OR MUCOSA) THAT IS TRANSFERRED INTO A DEFECT TO FACILITATE WOUND CLOSURE. THEY CAN BE EMPLOYED WHEN CLOSING WOUNDS BY SECOND INTENTION, PRIMARY LINEAR CLOSURE, OR WHEN SKIN GRAFTING WOULD RESULT IN FUNCTIONALLY OR AESTHETICALLY UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS. TRANSPOSITION FLAPS, ALSO CALLED LIFTING FLAPS, RECRUIT NONCONTIGUOUS DONOR TISSUE THAT IS INCISED AND SHIFTED TO TRADE PLACES WITH INTACT TISSUE IN ORDER TO CLOSE A WOUND. TRANSPOSITION FLAPS MOST COMMONLY USED IN CUTANEOUS SURGERY INCLUDE THE BILOBED, RHOMBIC, AND NASOLABIAL (MELOLABIAL) TRANSPOSITION FLAPS AND Z-PLASTIES. THESE FLAPS ALLOW THE USE OF SKIN FROM AREAS OF LESS TENSION AND DIRECT INCISION TENSION VECTORS MORE FAVORABLY. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRANSPOSITION FLAPS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING THESE PROCEDURES.