[Surgical treatment of groin soft tissue defects].

BACKGROUND

Treatment of groin defects remains challenging due to their location and origin. Such defects commonly result from resection of tumours but can also occur after surgical or medical therapy.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

From 2003 to 2005, 11 patients were treated with groin defects following radiation therapy and resection of lymph node metastasis, primary carcinoma, and sarcoma. Seven patients received wound closure with rectus femoris muscle flaps, and three had vertical rectus abdominis muscle flaps. One patient was amputated at the hip, and the defect was covered with dorsally pedicled muscle and skin flaps.

RESULTS

All flaps healed primarily. There were no secondary infections or lymphorrhea.

CONCLUSION

The flaps described here are well vascularised standard flaps which are easily harvested with no major donor site morbidity. They provide sufficient coverage for the groin, reduce long-term conservative treatment, hospitalisation, and problems such as scar contracture.