Archives of Plastic Surgery

Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (대한성형외과학회)
권호 표지

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

한국사람의 앞가쪽넙다리유리피판술에서의 관통동맥과 피판줄기에 대한 국소 해부

  • Song, Hyun Suk (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Ajou University) ;
  • Park, Myong Chul (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Ajou University)
  • 송현석 (아주대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 박명철 (아주대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실)
  • Received : 2007.11.16
  • Published : 2008.01.10
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Abstract

Purpose: The anterolateral thigh flap has many advantages over other conventional free flaps. But the anterolateral thigh flap has yet to enter widespread use because perforating arteries exhibit a wide range of anatomic variations and are difficult to dissect when small. The aim of this study is to identify the vascular variability of perforating arteries and pedicle in the anterolateral thigh free flap. Methods: We studied 12 cadavers and dissected 23 thighs. An anterolateral thigh flap ($12{\times}12cm$) was designed and centered at the midpoint of the line drawn from anterior superior iliac spine to the superolateral border of the patella. After we identifed the perforating arteries we dissected up to their origin from lateral circumflex femoral artery along descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery. We then investigated the number and the position of perforating arteries, length and diameter of vascular pedicle and pattern of lateral circumflex femoral arterial system. Results: On average $2.3{\pm}1.1$ perforating arteries per thigh were identified. The musculocutaneous perforators were 63.1%. In those perforators five perforators were arose from transverse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery and two were arose from rectus femoral artery. Most of the perforators were near the intermuscular septum between rectus femoris muscle and vastus lateralis muscle. The length and diameter of pedicle were $11.9{\pm}3.5cm$ and $3.1{\pm}0.8mm$ on average. Conclusion: This study will be helpful for the success in anterolateral thigh free flap.

Keywords

References

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