Anterolateral Thigh Flap: Our Experiences in Head and Neck Reconstruction

ABSTRACT

The anterolateral thigh(ALT) flap has been known as a very versatile and reliable flap. We report our experiences with the anterolateral thigh flap for the postoncologic reconstruction of head and neck region from April 2002 to March 2005. A total of 38 subjects (M F=308, mean age53.8 years) were taken. We reviewed primary site of tumors, size and thickness of flaps, location and number of perforators, course of perforators, length of pedicle, and postoperative complications. The mean flap size, thickness and pedicle length were 11.8 x 6.4 cm, 1.1 cm and 12.2 cm, respectively. We classified the pedicles based on the authors' criteria. Type I, pedicle with short intramuscular course, was with 29 cases(72.5%), type II, pedicle with long intramuscular course, with 6 cases(15%), type III, pedicle with septocutaneous course, with 3 cases(7.5%), and type IV, clinically unavailable pedicle, with 2 cases (5%). We experienced 1 case of partial and 1 case of total flap loss. There was 1 case of donor site wound dehiscence, which was treated by debridement and closure. According to the defect, efficient adjustment of the size and thickness of flap was possible, and favorable functional and aesthetic results have been obtained in our study. Our experience confirmed the versatility and usefulness of the anterolateral thigh flap for various reconstructions in head and neck region.