Reconstruction of the Tissue Defects of Extremities with Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap

ABSTRACT

For the reconstruction of various tissue defects, free tissue transfer has been a very popular method in recent years. A large thin flap is required for aesthetic and functional resurfacing of the extremity defects. As a result, anterolateral thigh free flap has been thought to be useful in reconstructing soft tissue defects requiring thin flap coverage of extremities. The anterolateral thigh flap is a septocutaneous flap based on the septocutaneous or musculocutaneous perforators of the lateral femoral circumflex system. It supplies a large area of skin on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. The advantages of this flap are safe elevation, a long vascular pedicle, and large caliber vessel. The donor scar is inconspicuous and it could also be used in a sensated flap. From September 1996 to December 1997, 16 cases of soft tissue defect on extremities were resurfaced with anterolateral thigh free flap and the outcomes were satisfactory. This flap is considered useful in one-stage reconstruction of large soft tissue defects of extremities.