Clinical application study of lateral thigh perforator flap

Abstract

Objective To probe the feasibility and therapeutic effect of the lateral thigh perforator flap for repairing soft tissue defects in extremity limbs. Methods Dissected six fresh Chinese adult lower limbs specimens which were injected with red latex via arterial cannula. Obseved the number, distribution,course, category of the flaps' perforators and measured their length of pedicle, external diameter on the specimens.Combinafing the results of the anatomy study,thirteen lateral thigh perforator flaps,whose size were 3.0 cm × 3.0 cm - 19.0 cm× 8.0 cm, were applyied to repair different defect, in which 1 was pedieled flap and 12 were free flaps.Two of them applied vessel anastomosis in series with anterlateral thigh perforator flap. The axis was from the fibulae capitulum to greater trochanter of femur. Results All 13 flaps surived com-pletely.In 3-6 months follow-up,all flaps were with thin and good appearance,and they were characterized by soft texture and good colour.No chimatlon and ulcer appeared in any flap.There were no effect of motor function in donor site because of muscle conglutination and scar contracture. There were plainness figure in donor site where skin- grafing was used, and only linearity scar remained where sewed directly. Conclusion The lateral thigh flap had provided with thin and pleasing appearance, soft texture and minor morbidity in donor site and correspondingly easy dissection. It was feasiblely to repair middling to little skin and soft tissue defect in extremity limbs as a free flap, and to repair skin and soft tissue defect in knee and popliteal space as a pedicel flap.It could apply vessel anastomosis in series with anterlateral thigh perforator flap for repairing large defect. Key words: Lateral thigh perforatorer flap; Deep thigh artery; Transplantation; Microsurgery