El Nahas, M., Ghareeb, F., Abolhoda, M. (2025). Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap, A Workhorse Flap. The Egyptian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 49(1), 81-89. doi: 10.21608/ejprs.2025.405241
Mohamed Abdallah El Nahas; Fouad Mohamed Ghareeb; Mohamed Salah Abolhoda. "Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap, A Workhorse Flap". The Egyptian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 49, 1, 2025, 81-89. doi: 10.21608/ejprs.2025.405241
El Nahas, M., Ghareeb, F., Abolhoda, M. (2025). 'Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap, A Workhorse Flap', The Egyptian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 49(1), pp. 81-89. doi: 10.21608/ejprs.2025.405241
El Nahas, M., Ghareeb, F., Abolhoda, M. Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap, A Workhorse Flap. The Egyptian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2025; 49(1): 81-89. doi: 10.21608/ejprs.2025.405241
Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap, A Workhorse Flap
The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University
Abstract
Background: Improvements in our knowledge of vascular anatomy have enabled the design of a new type of fascio- cutaneous flaps, which are based on perforating vessels only. Thus, donor site morbidity is markedly reduced. Objective: Our study aimed to ease flap harvest, shorten operation time, minimize donor site morbidity, maximize esthetic outcome, decrease complication rates and post-operative recovery time and therefore TDAP flap is considered as a work horse flap. Methods: The authors describe their experience about the role of TDAP flap in reconstruction of different complex tissue defects. Representative cases are presented for illustration. Results: We conducted a study involving 24 patients who underwent TDAP flap reconstructions from January 2022 to April 2024. The patients aged 4 to 49 years. Flaps ranged in size from 12cm × 6cm to 26cm × 15cm. In 12 cases, one perforator was identified: In 9 cases, two perforators and in 3 cases, three perforators. Free TDAP flaps were used in 17 cases, while pedicled flaps were used in 7 cases. The donor site was primarily closed in all cases without any movement restrictions. There was one case of partial flap loss, but no cases of total flap loss occurred. Conclusions: TDAP flap provides a reliable and versatile option for plastic surgeons in the reconstruction of complex soft tissue defects with limited donor site morbidity and excellent functional and esthetic results.
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