The Regional Anatomy of Perforating Artery and Pedicle for the Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap in Korean

The anterolateral thigh free flap has many advantages over other conventional free flaps. In particular, its moderate thickness and large cutaneous area allow aesthetic and functional refinement. Despite these advantages, the anterolateral thigh free flap needs considerable long learning periods because perforating arteries exhibit a wide range of anatomic variations and are difficult to dissect when small. The aims of this study is to identify the vascular variability of perforators and pedicle in the anterolateral thigh free flap in Korean. We studied 12 cadavers and could dissect 23 thighs. An anterolateral thigh flap( 12x 12cm) was designed and centered at the midpoint of a line drawn from anterior superior iliac spine to the superolateral border of the patella We began the dissection at the medial border of the flap in the suprafascial or subfascial plane. After the identification of the perforators the flap was elevated and dissected up to their origin from lateral circumflex femoral artery along descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery. We then investigated the number, position and diameter of perforating arteries, length and diameter of vascular pedicle and pattern of lateral circumflex femoral arterial system. On average 2.3 perforating areteries per thigh were identified. The musculocutaneous perforators were 64% and septocutaneous perforators were 36%. In those perforators five perforators were arose from transverse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery and two perforators were arose from rectus femoral artery. Most perforators were near the intermuscular septum between rectus femoris muscleand vastus lateralis muscle. The length and diameter of pedicle was 11.9cm and 3.1mm on average. In 14 of the thighs, the descending branch of lateral circumflex artery branched into a medial and a lateral branch. This study was to describe the regional anatomy of perforating artery and pedicle used in anterolateral thigh free flap. This study will be helpful for the success in anterolateral thigh free flap.

Author dc:creator

• 송, 현석

Contributors dc:contributor

• 박, 명철
• 대학원 의학과
• 105195

• 앞가쪽넙다리
• 유리피판술
• 관통동맥 피판줄기

Language dc:language

ko

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000009144
000000009144

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/1802