The role of transverse latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap immediate breast reconstruction

Immediate breast reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap (LDF) is still little mentioned in literature. Long-term follow-up studies regarding technique aspects are particularly scarce. The objective was to detail latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap transversely marked to midline at the back. Patients (n = 320) who underwent mastectomies and transverse latissimus immediate breast reconstructions (n = 324) at the Hospital A. C. Camargo (São Paulo, Brazil) between January 2000 and December 2007 were included. Information on clinical data, technique details, and clinical outcome were prospectively collected. Patient’s age ranged from 27 to 74 years. Most patients received a silicone gel textured surface implant (79.9%). The mean surgical time was 146 min, and dorsal scar had 8 to 18 cm in length and 0.3 to 2.5 cm in width. The follow-up varied from 6 to 91 months (mean 42.8). No complications were observed in 86.4% reconstructions. Our results lead us to conclude that transverse LDF provided a reliable option in immediate breast reconstruction.