Spontaneous late haematomas at latissimus dorsi flap donor sites: An unusual complication of breast reconstruction

Abstract

We present a case series of four patients treated by one surgeon who developed spontaneous late haematomas at the latissimus dorsi (LD) flap donor site more than a year following immediate breast reconstruction. While donor site haematoma post LD flap breast reconstruction is well documented in the first few days following surgery, there is a paucity of literature on haematomas presenting months or years after flap harvest. A case report exists of a haematoma precipitated by strenuous physical activity 21 months after free LD flap reconstruction,1 another of a chronically expanding haematoma following anticoagulation two years post-surgery2 and there is one report of a haematoma occurring 13 years after surgery at the LD donor site which was not associated with any obvious precipitating factors.