Reconstruction of vaginal agenesis by Singapore flap

Abstract

Various surgical methods for reconstruction of vaginal agenesis have been described in the past. One of these is the neurovascular pudendal thigh flap described by Wee and Joseph [20] after they studied the blood and nerve supply of upper thigh skin, medial groin, and perineum in fresh cadavers. This technique involves elevation of two flaps extending laterally to labia majora in the groin crease and suturing them to each other in the midline after bringing them through tunnels formed under the labia majora, thus, creating a new vagina. In our clinic, 24 cases of vaginal agenesis have been reconstructed with neurovascular pudendal thigh flaps in a period of 33 months. The patients were observed for eight months to three years following the operation, and only in three cases did necrosis of the distal flaps occur; hair grew in the vagina in five cases, and shrinkage was observed in only one case. This rather easy technique is the ideal reconstructive method in the vaginal agenesis. However, hair growth in the vagina must be prevented, since this is the main patient complaint.