[The clinical experience in transplantation of the anterolateral femoral skin flap].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce the clinical experience in transplantation of the anterolateral femoral skin flap.


METHODS
A total of 625 anterolateral femoral skin flaps in 600 patients were transplanted from 1988 to 2003. The retrospective analysis was carried out in all the cases as to the flap pedicle, the vascular variations, the surgical procedures and modifications, and the adaptation for a cutaneous-branch-absent flap.


RESULTS
The 625 flaps were transferred except 7 cancelled in the operation. Postoperatively, 17 cases encountered vascular complications, 10 of which survived completely with successful vessel exploration, 3 cases had partial necrosis, and 4 cases had complete necrosis. The survival rate was 97.8%. 545 flaps were pedicled with the descending branch or lateral branches; 45 flaps with the transverse branch or the high-site anterolateral cutaneous artery, 10 cases with the descending-transverse branch, 18 cases with other vessels. 7 cases were found cutaneous-branch-absent. The vessel variation rate of the flap was 4.06%.


CONCLUSIONS
The anterolateral femoral skin flap has less variation of its pedicle and high success rate of operation. It is an ideal choice for repair of soft tissue defects in the extremities.
Xu
Ya-jun
YJ
Wuxi Hand Surgery Hospital, China.
Shou
Kui-shui
KS
Rui
Yong-jun
YJ
Zhang
Quan-rong
QR
Xue
Ming-yu
MY
Chen
Zheng
Z
Yao
Qun
Q
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult