Immediate reconstruction using free medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flaps after breast-conserving surgery

Breast reconstruction using free medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flaps: intraoperative anatomic study and clinical results [corrected]

BACKGROUND

A free fascioadipocutaneous flap obtained from the medial thigh is suitable for breast reconstruction in Asian women with a small-to-moderate breast size. In this region, both a medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flap (MCFAp flap) and a posterior medial thigh perforator flap (PMTp flap) are options, based on perforators from the deep femoral vessels. Here, we evaluated the anatomic basis of the medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) perforators from the medial circumflex femoral vessels.

METHODS

Between July 2010 and June 2014, 53 patients (55 flaps) underwent breast reconstruction using a fascioadipocutaneous flap from the medial thigh. MCFA perforators larger than or equal to 0.5 mm in this region were investigated. The following parameters were recorded intraoperatively: number of perforators, perforator locations, distance of the perforating point from the proximal thigh crease and anterior border of the gracilis muscle.

RESULTS

The total number of perforators was 131, with a mean of 2.4. The number of perforators coursing through the gracilis muscle (gracilis perforators) was the largest, followed by septocutaneous perforator coursing between the adductor longus and gracilis muscle. The average perforating point was located 6.5 cm below the proximal thigh crease and 2.2 cm from the anterior border of the gracilis muscle. Of the 102 procedures performed since 2006, 15 flaps were elevated as MCFAp flaps and there was no major complication.

CONCLUSIONS

In some cases, MCFA perforators are dominant in this region compared to PMT perforators. A perforator map can be helpful for identifying adequate MCFA perforators intraoperatively.

Saving grace: distally pedicled gracilis muscular flap in lower limb salvage

During the 1970s, the incidence of limb amputation following surgery for sarcoma excision was as high as 50%. Two important developments have led to modern day limb salvage, namely chemotherapy and precision imaging techniques. We present a case of limb salvage in a patient with osteosarcoma plagued with recurrent infection after prosthetic revision. We discuss the use of the distally based pedicled gracilis muscular flap, which has little mention as a reconstructive option for defects around the knee.