Pedicled Anterolateral Thigh Flap

Abstract

Background: Once it has been first described by Song et al., in 1984, anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap gains wide popularity as a free flap with only a few reports in the literature regarding its application as a pedicled flap in regional soft-tissue reconstruction in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: The author describes his experience about the role of pedicled ALT flap in reconstruction of different local defects in pediatric patients. Representative cases are presented for illustration. Results: Nine patients with ischial, trochanteric, and groin defects have been reconstructed by pedicled ALT flap between January 2018 and January 2019. The patients were between 7- and 15-year-old. The size of the flaps measured from 4 cm × 6 cm to 19 cm × 17 cm. The type of the flap was myocutaneous flaps in six cases and as perforator flaps in three cases. Primary closure of the donor site has been done in seven cases while split-thickness skin grafts were done in two cases. Eight flaps have been totally survived while partial necrosis has been occurred in the distal end of one case. Conclusion: Pedicled ALT flap provide a reliable and versatile option for plastic surgeons in reconstruction of difficult regional soft-tissue defects in pediatric patients especially when bulkiness and resistance of infection is indicated, with accepted functional and cosmetic results.