The anatomy of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in anterolateral thigh flap.
OBJECTIVE
To determine systematically the pattern of the cutaneous perforator of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) in anterolateral thigh perforator (ALT) flap.


METHODS
Sixty dissections of the LCFA were carried out in 30 preserved cadavers. The number; type, origin, and location of the cutaneous perforators of the LCFA were studied and measured.


RESULTS
There were 169 perforators. In 79.3%, the perforators originated from the descending branch, 18.3% from the transverse branch. The perforator of the medial descending and the ascending branch were found in 1.8% and 0.6%, respectively. The most cutaneous perforators were concentrated in the middle third (14 to 28 cm from the ASIS) of the anterolateral thigh region.


CONCLUSIONS
The perforator of the descending branch, which was located ranging from 21 to 35 cm, was appropriate for flap designing to avoid the perforator of the transverse branch, which was difficult to harvest.
Tansatit
Tanvaa
T
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. tansatit@yahoo.com
Wanidchaphloi
Samang
S
Sanguansit
Pasinee
P
D002102:Cadaver; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012016:Reference Values; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013848:Thigh / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery