Flap surgery

Flap Surgery

Flap surgery is a type of plastic surgery that involves the transfer of living tissue from one part of the body to another. The purpose of flap surgery is to repair a defect or replace tissue that has been lost due to injury or disease.

Pronunciation

Flap surgery is pronounced as /flæp ˈsɜːr.dʒər.i/

Etymology

The term "flap" in flap surgery comes from the Old English word "flappe" which means "something that hangs down". The term "surgery" comes from the Greek word "cheirourgia" which means "hand work".

Types of Flap Surgery

There are several types of flap surgery, including:

• Local Flaps: These are flaps that are located near the defect that needs to be repaired. They are rotated or transposed into the defect.
• Regional Flaps: These are flaps that are located a little further away from the defect. They are transferred to the defect through a subcutaneous tunnel.
• Free Flaps: These are flaps that are completely detached from the body and then reattached at the defect site.

Related Terms

• Plastic Surgery: A surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body.
• Tissue (biology): A group of cells that have a similar structure and act together to perform a specific function.
• Defect (medicine): A shortcoming, imperfection, or lack, especially in a body structure.

See Also

• Skin grafting
• Reconstructive surgery
• Microsurgery

References

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