The gracilis (medial circumflex femoral) perforator flap: a medial groin free flap?
The superior medial thigh skin territory has previously been successfully transferred as a free flap as part of a gracilis musculocutaneous flap. However, muscle bulk can be avoided and its function preserved by instead retaining only the musculocutaneous perforators arising from the gracilis pedicle like in a true perforator flap. A clinical example of this new perforator flap is described as the gracilis (medial circumflex femoral) perforator flap. This could become an ideal skin flap because no muscle is included, a well-defined segment of skin can be reliably harvested, closure of the donor site leaves a scar in the groin that can be readily concealed, and its dominant vascular pedicle is consistent in location and already familiar to most reconstructive surgeons.
Hallock
Geoffrey G
GG
Division of Plastic Surgery, The Lehigh Valley Hospitals, 1230 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Suite 306, Allentown, PA 18103, USA. pbhallock@cs.com
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps