A rhomboid flap is a type of surgical skin flap used for reconstructive procedures. It's characterized by its unique geometric shape and its reliance on local tissue for blood supply.
Understanding Rhomboid Flaps
Rhomboid flaps, also known as Limberg flaps, are full-thickness local flaps with a random blood supply. This means they are not nourished by a specific artery, but rather by the network of small blood vessels within the skin and underlying tissues, referred to as the dermal-subdermal plexus. This differs from axial pattern flaps which have a defined arterial source of blood supply.
Key Characteristics:
- Shape: The flap has a distinctive rhomboid shape (a parallelogram with all sides equal in length)
- Local Tissue: It is created using tissue immediately adjacent to the area needing reconstruction.
- Random Blood Supply: It relies on the dermal-subdermal plexus of blood vessels for its viability.
How Rhomboid Flaps Work
- Defect Creation: The primary defect is typically a rhomboid shape.
- Flap Design: The rhomboid flap is designed as a mirror image to the defect, adjacent to it.
- Rotation and Advancement: The flap is raised from the surrounding tissue and rotated or advanced to cover the primary defect.
- Closure: The donor site is typically closed primarily.
Practical Insights:
- Versatility: Rhomboid flaps are suitable for repairing skin defects of different sizes and shapes and in different body locations
- Minimal Scarring: The rhomboid flap design can often result in cosmetically acceptable outcomes, with scars often blending well into natural skin lines.
- Random Blood Supply: The random pattern blood supply limits the size of these flaps.
- Planning is Crucial: Careful planning is required for accurate flap design, minimizing tension and achieving a good cosmetic result.
Table Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Full-thickness local flap |
| Blood Supply | Random, from dermal-subdermal plexus |
| Shape | Rhomboid (parallelogram with equal sides) |
| Tissue Source | Local tissue adjacent to the defect |
| Purpose | Reconstruction of skin defects |
| Key Advantage | Versatility, Minimal scarring |
| Key Limitation | Random blood supply limiting the size of these flaps |
| Reference | Rhomboid flaps are full-thickness local flaps with a random blood supply... (Example URL to demonstrate referencing) |
