Distally based anterolateral thigh flap: an underutilized option for peri-patellar wound coverage

Combined use of lower medial thigh perforator (LMTP) flap and pedicled medial sural artery perforator flap (MSAP) for lateral knee defects coverage after sarcoma resection: A case report and literature review of soft tissue defect around knee reconstruction

Reconstruction of knee defects still represents a challenge for reconstructive surgeons. After an extensive resection, the primary aim is to reach a stable result, while maintaining a good range of motion and aesthetic unity. The use of pedicled perforator-based flaps makes it possible to achieve these goals. Many are the flaps that can be used in this region, and the pedicle medial sural artery perforator (mSAP) flap is considered among one of the first-choice techniques. The purpose of this case report is to describe for the first time the use of pedicled mSAP flap to cover a lateral knee defect. A 79-year-old patient underwent extensive excision of sarcoma on the lateral side of the left knee, with removal of distal portion of the vastus lateralis muscle and portion of the biceps femoris tendon. The resulting defect from the excision measured 10 cm × 10 cm. To cover the postero-inferior part of the defect we decided to use a mSAP flap, with a skin paddle 10 cm × 5 cm, which was tunneled posteriorly to the popliteal artery and vein in order to reach the affected site. We then used a lower medial thigh perforator (pLMT) flap with a 15 cm × 5 cm skin paddle, rotated by 90° in a propeller fashion to cover the antero-superior portion of the defect. The decision to use two flaps was justified by the fact we wanted to close the donor areas with direct suturing for a better aesthetic result. The post-operative course was regular with only a small wound dehiscence that had healed by secondary intention. At 6 months postoperatively, the patient showed a complete active range of motion of the knee joint and absolute aesthetic satisfaction with flaps donor site and knee shape. A review of literature is also provided, with a specific focus on the different procedures for soft tissue defects reconstruction around the knee. According to our experience, the pedicle of the MSAP flap may be safely used as an additional reconstructive option for lateral knee defects.

Reconstruction of a knee defect in a morbidly obese patient with a pedicled reverse anterolateral thigh flap

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is widely used in the reconstruction of a variety of soft tissue defects. Descriptions of patients with severe obesity in the literature are scarce. We report a case where a reverse pedicled fasciocutaneous ALT flap was successfully used for resurfacing of a knee defect measuring 12×6 cm in a patient with a body mass index (BMI) of 47.3. The flap was supercharged to the greater saphenous vein to optimise flap survival. Reconstruction of the soft tissue of the knee was achieved as planned. There were no flap or donor site complications.

Knee Defect Reconstruction Using the Distally Based Anterolateral Thigh Flap Based on the Reverse Flow from the Oblique Branch of the Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the knee is challenging, and the most common solution is to use various locoregional flaps or, in some difficult cases, a free flap. The distally based anterolateral thigh (dALT) flap is a commonly used flap that relies on reverse blood flow from the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (d-LCFA). Here, we present the case of an anteromedial knee reconstruction using a dALT flap after resection of a pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma. The tumor resection resulted in a 14 × 7 cm defect, and a dALT flap, measuring 20 × 8 cm was elevated. During the surgery, we found a robust oblique branch of the LCFA (o-LCFA) sending off two sizable perforators to the anterolateral thigh region, whereas the d-LCFA was relatively small with no usable perforators. Therefore, we harvested a dALT flap relying on reverse flow from the o-LCFA. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and the flap survived without complications. This report demonstrates that reverse flow from the o-LCFA may be an alternative to nourish a dALT flap in cases where the d-LCFA is hypoplastic or suitable perforators from the d-LCFA are unavailable.

Versatility of the lateral circumflex femoral artery sparing perforator-based anterolateral thigh flaps in loco-regional thigh reconstruction after skin cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma resection

BACKGROUND

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap represents a workhorse in reconstructive microsurgery but its use in a free style fashion as perforator-based flap has yet to be popularized. We describe our experience with lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) sparing perforator-based ALT flaps for thigh reconstruction after oncological resection in a case series of 24 consecutive patients.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients underwent thigh reconstruction with 25 perforator-based ALT flaps between 2014 and 2020. Defect etiology was related to skin cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma resection in 3, 7, and 14 cases respectively. Mean defect size was 15 × 8 cm. Six months postoperatively, patients were asked to rate on a 5-point Likert scale the aesthetic and functional outcomes of the reconstructive procedure.

RESULTS

Eight flaps were advanced in a V-Y fashion (33.3%), whether 16 flaps (66.7%) were rotated in a propeller fashion. The average flap size was 19 × 8 cm, while mean operative time was 197.2 min. Donor sites were always closed by primary intention. Minor complications were registered in 5 cases and managed conservatively. Overall patients' satisfaction was high, with mean aesthetic and functional ratings of 4.46 and 4.21 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

LCFA sparing perforator-based ALT flaps proved to be a versatile and reproducible solution to address thigh reconstruction after oncological resection according to the different topographical sub-units involved.

Versatility of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap for surgical reconstruction, a case series

Background

The pedicled anterolateral thigh flap is a versatile flap that offers many advantages. These include a long and reliable pedicle that enables a wide arch of rotation, the possibility to harvest a large skin area, raising the flap with underlying fascia and muscle and minimal donor site morbidity.

Methods

From 2009 to 2018 nine patients were reconstructed with a pedicled anterolateral thigh flap. The flap was applied for coverage of knee infections, trochanteric defects, an abdominal defect, a gluteal defect, and a defect of the inguinal region. The patient group consisted of five males and four females. The age range was 30–90 years with a mean age of 61 years.

Results

Flap size ranged from 10 x 5 cm (50 cm²) to 15 x 30 cm (450 cm²) with a mean size of 222 cm². We experienced no flap loss. The donor site was closed directly in seven out of nine patients, and the remaining two patients were closed by split-thickness skin grafting. Satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcome was achieved in all patients.

Conclusion

Our experience illustrates the versatility in the clinical application of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap. The many advantages of the flap, such as the long and reliable pedicle, a large area of skin that can be harvested, the potential to supercharge the flap and the minimal donor site morbidity highlights the diversity of defects that can be reconstructed using this flap.