The infragluteal skin flap: a new option for reconstruction in the perineogenital area.

Use of a local flap is often needed for closure of a defect in the perineogenital area. For this we have applied a pedicled skin flap raised in the infragluteal fold, the technical details and surgical results of which are presented in this paper. From 1985 until 1995, this infragluteal flap has been used to widen the vaginal introitus in 6 patients, to reconstruct the labia majora in 5, to close a rectovaginal fistula in 4, and to reconstruct the perineal body in 1. In all 16 patients the flap survived without signs of impaired circulation. The donor scar is inconspicuously located in the natural infragluteal plica, not violating any anatomic unit. The infragluteal skin flap adds to the surgical armamentarium for perineal and genital repair.