Free forearm fillet flap for chest wall reconstruction after forequarter amputation and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor excision

Abstract

Fillet flaps are useful for reconstructing large soft-tissue defects, especially in cases where the surgeon has available spare body parts that would otherwise be discarded. The use of free forearm fillet flaps to reconstruct large chest wall defects arising from traumatic extremity amputation or malignant tumor excision has been previously described. This report represents the first case of a free forearm fillet flap used to reconstruct an extensive chest wall defect after forequarter amputation and excision of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor involving the brachial plexus.