Anthropomorphic and perforator analysis of anterolateral thigh flap in Indian population

Perforating patterns of cutaneous perforator vessels in anterolateral thigh flaps for head and neck reconstruction and clinical outcomes

Background

Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps are versatile soft tissue flaps that have become the standard soft-tissue flaps used for head and neck reconstruction. They provide a long vascular pedicle, constant vessel diameter, abundant soft tissue coverage, and minimal donor site morbidity. The ALT flap was initially designed on the basis of a septocutaneous (SC) perforator. However, more recent research has shown that a substantial number of ALT flaps are now based on musculocutaneous (MC) perforators, and the ratio between MC and SC perforators varies among studies. In this study, we analyzed the perforating pattern of ALT flaps along with their clinical outcomes during head and neck reconstruction in the Korean population.

Methods

From October 2016 to July 2020, 68 patients who had undergone an ALT flap procedure for head and neck reconstruction were enrolled retrospectively. The perforating pattern of the cutaneous perforator vessel (MC perforator/SC perforator/oblique branch), pedicle length, and flap size were analyzed intraoperatively. Patient demographics and flap necrosis rates were also calculated.

Results

The highest number of cutaneous perforator vessels supplying the ALT flap were the MC perforators (87%). The proportion of MC perforators was significantly higher than that of the SC perforators and oblique branches. Flap necrosis occurred in seven cases (11.86%); sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, perforator course, and history of radiotherapy did not significantly affect flap necrosis.

Conclusion

The ALT free flap procedure remains popular for reconstruction of the head and neck. In this study, we observed that the majority of cutaneous vessels supplying the flaps were MC perforators (87%). When using the MC perforator during flap elevation, careful dissection of the perforator is required to achieve successful ALT flaps because intramuscular dissection is difficult. Perforator pattern and history of radiotherapy did not affect flap necrosis.

Tensor fascia lata flow-through modification of the anterolateral thigh flap for the repair of through-and-through defects of the face

The treatment of tumour recurrence or severe surgical complications in the head and neck region is often very complicated and limited. In particular, there is no suitable reconstruction strategy for patients whose necks are poor in blood vessels and whose anterolateral thigh (ALT) donor areas concurrently have only one available perforating branch. Therefore, a 'flow-through' technique was applied to fabricate chimeric ALT flaps for such patients. An ipsilateral tensor fascia lata flap was anastomosed to the distal end of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. Six patients were included in this study. All fabricated chimeric flaps were successfully prepared and remained viable. After follow-up (range 3-38 months), the patients were satisfied with their appearance and the incision lines had healed well. In patients with through-and-through defects of the face and with anatomical variations in the donor area, chimeric ALT flaps fabricated via the flow-through technique can provide double flaps and longer vascular pedicles, thereby enabling reconstruction.