The role of greater omentum in reconstructing skin and soft tissue defects of the groin and axilla.

In three patients undergoing extended inguinal (2) or axillary (1) block dissection for recurrent malignant disease use of conventional reconstructive methods was not possible. Transposed greater omentum was used to provide a vascularized base for split-thickness skin grafts in two patients and to protect a vascular prosthesis placed in heavily irradiated tissues in the third. In each case whole limb ablation was avoided and the salvaged limb showed good function. No local recurrence of malignant disease was seen.