A novel surgical technique for dissecting perforator vessel in anterolateral thigh perforator flap: Orderly retrograde four-side dissection / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To introduce a novel surgical technique for dissecting perforator vessels (orderly retrograde four-side dissection) in anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) and explore its clinical outcome.Methods:Respective analysis of 94 patients who underwent reconstruction of soft tissue defects with ALTPF which were dissected by orderly retrograde four-side dissection between June, 2013 and December, 2016. After surgery, the survival of flaps, recovery in shape and function of the recipient sites, and the effect on shape and function of the donor sites were observed.Results:The size of ALTPF ranged from 7 cm×5 cm to 32 cm×10 cm. Ninety-four perforators were included in 94 ALTPF, which were 89 perforators of the descending branch of circumflex femoral lateral artery, 4 perforators of the transverse branch of circumflex femoral lateral artery and 1 perforator of femoral medial artery. The time for flap harvesting was 35-95(54.39±16.39) min. Success rate of perforator harvesting was 98.9%, only 1 perforator was injured and another encountered vasospasm during surgery. Three cases had vascular crisis after flap transfer with 2 venous crises and 1 artery crisis. All of the flaps completely survived except 1 that had a partial necrosis. The follow-up time was (12.91±9.17) months. No muscular weakness on donor sites was shown in all cases.Conclusion:Orderly retrograde four-side dissection of perforator vessels in the ALTPF has achieved less donor site morbidity, shorter surgical time and is safer than the traditional techniques. It is a reliable technique to harvest perforator flaps.