| Title | Soft-tissue reconstruction using a free anterolateral thigh flap: experience with 28 patients. |
| Author(s) | Yildirim S, Avci G, Aköz T |
| Institution | Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kartal Dr. Lüftü Krdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. |
| Source | Ann Plast Surg 2003 Jul; 51(1):37-44. |
| MeSH | Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Extremities
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
Surgical Flaps
Thigh
|
| Abstract | The authors present their experience using the free anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap for head and neck and extremity reconstruction. From January 2000 through March 2002, 28 free anterolateral thigh flaps were transferred to reconstruct various soft-tissue defects. All patients were operated by two teams. All flaps were elevated based on one perforator only. The sizes of the flaps ranged from 9 x 11 to 20 x 26 cm. The success rate was 96.5% (27 of 28), with one partial failure. The cutaneous perforators were always found. Septocutaneous perforators were found in 3 of 28 patients (10.7%). Musculocutaneous perforators (89.3%) were found in the remaining patients, and the number of perforators ranged from two to five (average, three perforators). In 4 patients, flaps were used for sensate reconstruction. The authors used the anterolateral thigh flap as a thin flap in 10 patients. Mean follow-up was 13.5 months (range, 2-25 months). Soft-tissue reconstruction with the free anterolateral thigh flap in various regions of the body provides an excellent functional and cosmetic result with minimal donor site morbidity. The anterolateral thigh flap has many advantages over other conventional free flaps and it seems to be an ideal choice for the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects. |
| Language | eng |
| Pub Type(s) | Case Reports
Journal Article
|
| PubMed ID | 12838123 |
