Sensibility and cutaneous reinnervation of pectoralis major myocutaneous island flaps. A preliminary clinical report.

The cutaneous sensibility of 13 pectoralis major cutaneous island flaps has been investigated retrospectively. Although in raising the pectoralis major myocutaneous island flap sensory denervation of the skin is produced, after a mean follow-up period of 29 months (range 5 to 71 months), 68% of the cutaneous portion of the flap revealed sensibility to touch, suggesting a reinnervation from the surrounding intact oral mucosa or skin. The rate of reinnervation was found to be related to the sensibility present in the surrounding tissue.