The Split Gluteus Maximus Muscle Turnover Flap

Abstract

The split gluteus musculocutaneous flap has been shown to be a useful flap for sacral reconstruction. This has been described previously by the second author.1 While the rotation flap is our flap of choice for perineal defects, we use a turnover flap for central sacral defects as an alternative to V-Y advancement flaps. The flap is the same as a split gluteus musculocutaneous flap except that the cutaneous part is omitted and the muscle is turned over in book fashion rather than rotated. The split gluteus maximus muscle turnover flap has been used successfully in eight cases over the past 3 years (Table I). Normal ambulation was maintained in the five patients who were not paraplegic.