THE SURGICAL UTILIZATION OF MARUYAMA’S FLAP FOR THE ELBOW REGION SOFT TISSUE COVERAGE

Abstract

A new island fasciocutaneous flap raised on the inner surface of the upper arm has been used for reconstruction of soft tissue of the elbow as described by Maruyama in 1987. The medial arm represent a very useful potential donor site for flap because of its excellent colour, fine texture and ideal thickness. The flap sa described by Maruyama achieves a good coverage of the defects of the elbow region and results extremely suitable for contracture and ulcers treatment at the elbow region as we can see after burns or other various trauma and lesion. The blood supply to this flap comes from the fasciocutaneous perforators of the ulnar recurrent vessels. In our experience this flap is relatively quick and simple, involving only one stage procedure that adequately corrects the skin defect around the elbow region.