VASCULARIZATION OF THE TENSOR FASCIA LATA MYOCUTANEOUS FREE FLAP / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

1. The blood supply of the tensor fascia lata myocutaneous free flap comes chiefly from the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex artery (76.74％) or its ascending and the transverse branches (23.26％). In most cases the ascending branch may be served as the vascular pedicle of myocutaneous free flap in transplatation. In a few cases the transverse branch my be used instead of the ascending one.2. The projection of the origin of the lateral circumflx artery on the body surface is at a point averaging 96.5mm below, and 49.2mm medial to the anterior superior iliac spine. This point is the surface landmark of the lateral circumflex artery. 3. The branches of the lateral circumflex artery may be classified into four types. Type 1—32 cases, 74.42％; Type Ⅱ—3 cases, 6.98％; Type Ⅲ—7 cases, 16.28％; Type Ⅳ—1 cases, 2.33％.4. The tensor fascia lata is chiefly supplied by the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex artery, it divides into a short superior and a long inferior twigs. Both twigs enter the muscle and form abundant anastomoses in the subcutaneus tissues. In order to reduce the thick ness of the free flap for the use in plastics, the superior twig with its supplying muscle is cut away and the inferior one's left to supply myocutaneus flap.5. The angle between the ascending branch and the inner surface of the tensor fasca lata varies between 44? to 120?, with an average of 66.5?. The original angle must be kept in transplantation, which favours the survival of the myocutaneus free flap.