[Evaluation of surgical flaps used for creation of an artificial penis in female-male type transsexuals].

In the years 1983-1997, 252 female to male transsexuals were treated in the Department of Plastic Surgery of University Medical School in Łódź. In 209 patients surgical penis construction was performed. The paper presents operative techniques and results of penis construction with the use of four kinds of flaps: a bipedicled abdominal tube flap, a single pedicled infraumblical flap, a pedicled myocutaneous flap with gracilis muscle and a pedicled lateral groin flap. Overall estimation of early results of penis construction with the use of the four methods applied in the Department showed that we obtained good results in 69.8% of operated transsexuals, satisfactory effects in 24.4% of patients and poor outcome in 5.8% of cases. The best results were achieved with the technique involving a lateral groin flap.