Myocutaneous flaps: the Saskatoon experience.

The purpose of this study was to determine the results of myocutaneous flap procedures performed in three Saskatoon hospitals between 1977 and 1979. Twenty-two flap procedures were performed on 17 patients. Eleven patients were suffering from decubitus ulcers and 6 had other wounds. Myocutaneous flaps have a place in the early surgical management of decubitus ulcers. Fluorescein given intravenously in some patients during operation was used to assess flap viability; 4 out of 10 flaps required trimming as a result. The myocutaneous flap technique provides rapid and durable closure for a wide variety of tissue defects which are otherwise difficult to cover.