Head and neck reconstruction using lateral thigh free flap: flap design.
Eleven lateral thigh free flaps were used in head and neck reconstruction, transferred on the basis of the second perforator as well as the third perforator of the profunda femoris artery. The lateral thigh free flap was useful and reliable in head and neck reconstruction and was versatile in flap design. Due to the wide cutaneous territory of the lateral thigh flap, the skin island could be designed freely in the lateral thigh region. Careful patient selection is mandatory for good results. The pinch test and an understanding of the variety of subcutaneous thicknesses in the lateral thigh region are helpful in designing a skin island of adequate thickness. Other considerations in flap design are discussed.
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Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Sung-Kyun-Kwan University, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Baek
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D006085:Graft Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D009336:Necrosis; D018579:Patient Selection; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D013848:Thigh; D016896:Treatment Outcome