Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41283263›Full record

ArticleMedical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Sensory Recovery After Free Muscle Flap Reconstruction-A Clinical Study of Protective and Discriminative Function of Free Gracilis and Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flaps Without Neurotization.

Maximilian C Stumpfe, Moritz Billner, Marc Hellweg, Maximilian Hirschmann, Rakan R Al-Turki, Celena A Sörgel, Vadym Burchak, Nikolaus Wachtel, Denis Ehrl

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Maximilian C StumpfeDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Centre for Severe Burn Injuries, Nuremberg Clinics, University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauerstrasse 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany.
Moritz BillnerDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Centre for Severe Burn Injuries, Nuremberg Clinics, University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauerstrasse 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3614-9600
Marc HellwegDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
Maximilian HirschmannDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
Rakan R Al-TurkiDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Centre for Severe Burn Injuries, Nuremberg Clinics, University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauerstrasse 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany.
Celena A SörgelDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Centre for Severe Burn Injuries, Nuremberg Clinics, University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauerstrasse 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany.
Vadym BurchakDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Centre for Severe Burn Injuries, Nuremberg Clinics, University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauerstrasse 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany.
Nikolaus WachtelDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-3746-7838
Denis EhrlDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Centre for Severe Burn Injuries, Nuremberg Clinics, University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Breslauerstrasse 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9394-8412

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesFree gracilis (GM) and latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) flaps are reliable options for complex defect coverage, but long-term sensory outcomes remain underexplored. Sensory impairment, especially the loss of protective cutaneous sensation, increases the risk of injury, thermal damage, and ulceration in reconstructed areas. This study aimed to systematically assess multidimensional sensory recovery after free muscle flap (FMF) reconstruction.

methodsIn a prospective single-center study, 94 patients (49 GM, 45 LDM) underwent standardized sensory testing following FMF transfer. Five modalities were evaluated: pressure detection (Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments), vibration perception, two-point discrimination (2PD), sharp-dull differentiation, and temperature differentiation. Measurements were compared to contralateral healthy skin (CHS). Subgroup analyses were performed by anatomical region (head, trunk, extremities).

resultsAll sensory modalities were significantly impaired in FMF compared to CHS (

conclusionsFMFs without neurotization result in profound, persistent sensory deficits, particularly the loss of protective sensation. Clinically, fascio-cutaneous flaps with nerve coaptation should be considered in functionally critical regions. Future strategies should focus on neurotization techniques to enhance sensory recovery.

Indexed as

Free Tissue FlapsGracilis MusclePlastic Surgery ProceduresSensationSuperficial Back MusclesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRecovery of Functionfree muscle flapgracilis flaplatissimus dorsi flapnerve coaptationsensory recovery

Identifiers

PMID41283263
PMCPMC12641802

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.