Free Skeletal Muscle Transfer With Microneurovascular Anastomoses

Abstract

Tamai et al. [1] in 1970 first reported successful free transplantation of a large skeletal muscle in dogs using microneurovascular anastomoses. The rectus femoris muscle was transferred to isotopical and heterotopical recipient sites where the nutrient artery and vein and the motor nerve of the muscle were simultaneously coapted with the recipient vessels and motor nerve. A high rate of functional contraction could be obtained by the transferred muscle, and histological findings showed it to have an almost normal structure at five months postoperatively. The method suggested by this excellent laboratory work would seem to present the greatest potential for free transplantation of skeletal muscles which, since Volkmann’s documentation [2], had been believed impossible.