What Is a Pedicle Flap

Listen to pronunciation. (PEH-dih-kul …) A type of surgery used to rebuild the shape of the breast after a mastectomy. Tissue, including skin, fat, and muscle, is moved from one area of the body, such as the back or abdomen, to the chest to form a new breast mound.

Is a pedicle flap a free flap?

TRAM (Abdomen) When the TRAM flap is a pedicle flap, it remains attached to its blood supply, with the tissue surgically tunneled underneath the skin to the breast region. When the TRAM flap is a free flap, the tissue is detached and cut away from its blood supply before being transferred.

What is a distant pedicle flap?

Distant pedicle flaps that can be used to cover hand defects include groin flaps, cross-arm flaps, chest flaps, and abdominal flaps. The groin flap is an axial pattern flap based on the superficial circumflex femoral artery and is most commonly used.