OBJECTIVE: To explore a method to repair severe radiation-induced ulcer and evaluate its clinical effects. METHODS: From August 1988 to December 1998, 12 cases of severe radiation-induced ulcer were treated by muscular or musculocutaneous flap transfer, which included 1 case of pectoralis major muscular flap, 3 cases of three-lobed transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap, 2 cases of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of longitudinal rectus abdominis musculocutaneous and tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap, 1 case of gastrocnemius muscular flap, 1 case of gluteus major musculocutaneous flap, huge filleted musculocutaneous flap from lower limbs in 1 case and from upper limbs in 1 cases. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. Primary healing occurred in 9 cases and secondary healing in 3 cases. The extensive multiple ulcers in 2 cases were repaired with filleted limb musculocutaneous flap, and patients were saved. And in other 3 cases, the chest wall defect as the result of radionecrosis were repaired with simultaneous breast reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Muscular or musculocutaneous flaps have abundant blood supply, they are ideal tissue to fill the cavity and repair the defect, especially in repairing severe radiation-induced ulcers.
