title: Application of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap to defects from the pelvis to the knee.
abstract: The blood flow and the blood perfusion of pedicled anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap was evaluated in 11 patients with skin and soft tissue defects by means of color Doppler ultrasonography and of near-infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Also, the authors assessed the ability of the pedicled perforator flap to cover the above defects. A proximally based flap was used to cover defects at the lower abdominal wall (two patients), the suprapubic area, the penis (two patients), the greater trochanter (two patients), the lateral gluteal area, and the ischial tuberosity. A distally based flap was used to cover the exposed knee joint (two patients). Near-infrared spectroscopy revealed excellent oxygen saturation and Doppler ultrasonography documented increased blood flow and decreased vascular resistance in the pedicled ALT flap, postoperatively. All flaps survived completely and the wounds healed uneventfully, resulting in excellent esthetic and functional results. The vascular anatomy of ALT flap facilitates the design of versatile pedicled flaps with tremendous vascularity, two pivot points and large arc of rotation, able to cover defects from the lower abdominal wall to the knee joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Microsurgery and Burn Center J. Ioannovich, General State Hospital of Athens G. Gennimatas, Athens, Greece. gravvani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Andreas I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gravvanis
authors.forename: Dimosthenis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tsoutsos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karakitsos
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panayotou
authors.forename: Thomais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iconomou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zografos
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karabinis
authors.forename: Othon
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014945:Wound Healing