ABSTRACT
The authors attempted to elicit correlations between the appearance and morphology
of neuronal structures in the subcutaneous region of latissimus dorsi transfers and
the reestablishment of sensibility in myocutaneous transfers with and without neuronal
anastomosis. Six patients with and six without neuronal reconstruction of latissimus
dorsi transfers, through anastomosis of the large auricular nerve and the thoracodorsal
nerve of the transfer, were followed-up clinically and histologically. Clinical examination
established the sensibility of the transferred tissue. Histologic examination demonstrated
changes in the relative number of fascicles, the degree of myelinization, fibrosis,
and degree of scarring. In patients with nerve anastomosis, sensibility was established
more frequently, with a lessening of scarring and fibrosis of the fascicle, compared
to patients without anastomosis. A clear advantage of neu-ronally anastomosed latissimus
dorsi transfers, compared to transfers without anastomosis, was determined clinically
and histologically.
