TREATMENT OF THE DEFECT IN THE OCCIPITAL REGION WITH THE

MYOCUTANEOUS TRAPEZIUS ISLAND FLAP. CLINICAL CASE.

Viorica Mihaluţa, Alina Stoian, Rodica Iordăchescu, Elvira Fortuna, Paulina Gologan, Grigore
Verega.
Clinic of Plastic, Aesthetic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Department of Orthopedics and
Traumatology, PMSI Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau,
Republic of Moldova

Introduction: In plastic surgery there has always been a problem in the treatment of defects caused by
cancers. The defect produced in the occipital region by a cancer, requires a complex approach,
excluding a recurrence and the need for an adequate aesthetic appearance.
Aim of study: Covering the massive defect in the occipital region with the trapezius inferior
myocutaneous flap, avoiding cancer recurrence and forming an aesthetic appearance.
Materials and methods: The 65-year-old patient, diagnosed with cornified multilayered squamous cell
carcinoma, with bone destruction with invasion of adjacent bone tissues. Removal of the extra-
intracranial occipital tumor was performed, following the intervention to cover the defect produced by
10 by 18 cm, thus requiring a more complex approach, thus using the defect cover with the trapezius
inferior myocutaneous flap.
Results: The defect was completely covered, the donor region being closed in one stage. More than 2
months after the intervention, there was a good integration of the flap, without a recurrence of the
cancer.
Conclusion: The decision to perform such a massive reconstruction, it is necessary to address all
parameters: the condition of the skin around the defect after performing cancer irradiation treatment,
concomitant pathologies, which will influence the results later; compliance with the
recommendations, necessary for a result both aesthetically and functionally.
Keywords: Flap, defect. occipital region.