Clinical application of relaying anteromedial thigh perforator flap in resurfacing of donor defect after anterolateral thigh flap transfer

Abstract

To investigate the clinical application of relaying anteromedial thigh (AMT) perforator flap in resurfacing of the donor defect after anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap transfer. Between February 2012 and December 2015, 23 cases of oral carcinoma underwent radical resection; after resection of lesions, the tongue or mouth floor defects were reconstructed by ALT perforator flaps, and the donor sites were repaired with relaying AMT perforator flap at the same stage. There were 21 males and 2 females,with a mean age of 52.6 years (range, 29-74 years). Sixteen patients had tongue squamous cell carcinoma and 7 patients had buccal cancer. According to TNM tumor stage, 3 cases were classified as T 4N 0M 0, 5 cases as T 4N 1M 0, 7 cases as T 3N 1M 0, 5 cases as T 3N 2M 0, and 3 cases as T 3N 0M 0. The disease duration ranged from 6 to 18 months (mean, 8.8 months). The AMT perforators existed consistently in all patients. All flaps survived, and primary healing of wounds was obtained at recipient sites and donor sites. No vascular crisis, wound dehiscence, or obvious swelling occurred. All patients were followed up 6-20 months (mean, 9.4 months). There was only linear scar at the donor sites, and the function of thighs was normal. The color and contour of the flaps were satisfactory. The relaying AMT perforator flap is an ideal choice to reconstruct the donor site of ALT flap.