Long-term follow-up of myelomeningocele defect closure with dorsal intercostal artery perforator propeller flaps

Abstract

Closure of the skin defect in myelomeningocele repair determines the quality of the surgical result. In large myelomeningoceles, the direct closure or by skin undermining may not be possible. In these cases, the skin defect must be closed using flaps to provide a tension-free and successful closure. In this procedure, after neurosurgical repair and closure of the placode, the defect surgically becomes an ovoid in shape. Then, this defect is closed by transposition of two dorsal intercostal artery perforator propeller flaps. The defect size was > 5cm in diameter. The localization of the lesion was lumbosacral. A successful tension-free one-stage closure was obtained, without necrosis. Healing was uneventful without any complications and the coverage remained stable over 9years with the child growth. The dorsal intercostal artery perforator propeller flap enables the surgeon to achieve a tension-free defect closure of considerably large myelomeningocele defects. This type of closure provides a durable coverage and a soft tissue padding over the neural tissues that persist with the child growth. The dorsal intercostal artery perforator propeller flap seems to be a useful closure of large myelomeningocele defects.