[Analysis of the donor-site complications of the anterolateral thigh flap].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the donor-site complications of the anterolateral thigh flap and its influencing factors.


METHODS
Between July 1988 and July 2007, 427 patients were treated with anterolateral thigh flap. Among them, 33 patients had postoperative donor-site complications and their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 21 males and 12 females aged 14-47 years old (average 32.7 years old). The size of the wound defect ranged from 16 cm x 7 cm to 28 cm x 13 cm. The area of the flap harvested during operation ranged from 16 cm x 7 cm to 30 cm x 13 cm. The donor sites were treated by direct suture in 7 cases; free split-thickness skin graft in 23 cases, and reverse superficial epigastric artery flap repair in 3 cases. The size of graft in the donor site ranged from 10 cm x 5 cm to 18 cm x 8 cm. The occurrence of short-term (within 4 weeks) and long-term (over 6 months) complications were analyzed.


RESULTS
All patients were followed up for 8-54 months (average 21 months). There were 26 patients (78.8%) with short-term and long-term complications and 7 patients (21.2%) with long-term complications. The short-term complications included skin graft necrosis in 23 cases (69.7%), wound infection in 17 cases (51.5%), and muscle necrosis in 2 cases (6.1%). The long-term complications included non-healing wounds in 21 cases (63.6%), serious scar in 28 cases (84.8%), discomfort in 25 cases (75.8%), and dysfunction of the quadriceps femoris in 16 cases (48.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of anterolateral thigh flap donor-site complications is related to the anatomical structure of the anterolateral thigh region, the surgical procedure, and the patient's physique.
Wen
Gen
G
Department of Orthopaedics, the Sixth Peoples' Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200233, P.R. China.
Wu
Xuhua
X
Chai
Yimin
Y
Kang
Qinglin
Q
Zeng
Bingfang
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult