RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In the past years the anterolateral thigh flap has become a workhorse flap in the reconstruction of the head and neck region and the extremities. Due to its variable vascular anatomy the preoperative assessment of perforators has been performed using several devices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our study we investigated the reliability of Doppler sonography and colour Doppler sonography for this purpose in 14 patients undergoing reconstruction with anterolateral thigh flaps. Colour Doppler sonography identified 31 perforators preoperatively, which were all identified during flap harvest. Doppler sonography found 25 true positive signals, 11 false positive signals and 6 false negative signals. CONCLUSIONS: Both procedures provide a simple and rapid method for the localisation of ALT perforators. However, colour Doppler sonography showed a significantly higher reliability in identifying perforators of anterolateral thigh flaps, thus enabling flap design around preoperatively confirmed perforators.