Reversed turnover latissimus dorsi muscle flap for closure of large myelomeningocele defects.

Soft-tissue coverage of large myelomeningocele defects is a major surgical challenge that requires close co-operation between neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons to achieve adequate, durable and tension-free coverage of the neural tube. This study was conducted in Zagazig university hospitals on 11 infants, born with large thoracolumbar myelomeningocele defects, presented from June 2004 to February 2007. These defects were reconstructed by using reversed turnover latissimus dorsi muscle flap covered by split-thickness skin graft.