Transposition Flap for Cutaneous Lesion Coverage in Dermatomyositis

Abstract

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune inflammatory myopathy with some cutaneous manifestations. We present the case of a patient with a bone-depth skin ulceration on the elbow that was well healed with a transposition flap using a dorsal interosseous artery perforator. A 56-year-old man reported difficulties when climbing stairs and diffuse pain of unclear origin throughout his body that started 2 months previously. The patient was diagnosed with DM, and the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery was consulted for the management of an ulcerative skin lesion on the left elbow. The dorsal interosseous artery was first detected by vascular Doppler ultrasonography, and a transposition flap was designed including the pedicle. The flap was transposed to cover the bone exposure over the olecranon. At 4 weeks postoperatively, complete healing of the wound was observed without complications, and the patient had full range of motion of the elbow without pain. Despite major developments in the medical treatment of DM, ulcerative cutaneous lesions remain difficult to treat. Our experience suggests that the use of a transposition flap including the dorsal interosseous artery is suitable for the treatment of ulcerative lesions around the elbow in DM patients.