Neurovascular latissimus dorsi free-flap transfer for reconstruction of a major abdominal-wall defect in a 13-month-old child: late follow-up.

The authors present a late follow-up of a pediatric case originally reported in the Journal, involving a newborn with a left gastroschisis, exposure of the stomach, jejunum, and left colon. Subsequent to placement of silicone mesh, the child developed a nosocomial infection, which led to necrosis of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle. Post infection control, the abdominal viscera were covered with only skin and subcutaneous tissue. At 13 months, the abdominal-wall defect was reconstructed with a free latissimus dorsi microneurovascular flap. A current late follow-up at 9.5 years demonstrates mean normal growth, good abdominal-wall resistance and contraction, and caudal scar migration, with little visibility.