[Clinical application of the reverse neurocutaneous flap with anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve supplied by the perforator of saphenous artery].
OBJECTIVE
To report the operative technique and clinical application of the neurocutaneous flap with anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve supplied by the perforator of saphenous artery.


METHODS
The reverse neurocutaneous flap with anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve supplied by the perforator of saphenous artery was used for repairing the defect around knee or at the upper pad of leg. Since Oct. 2005, 16 cases were treated. The flap size ranged from 15 cm x 7 cm to 30 cm x 15 cm. Flap rotation angle ranged from l00 degrees to 180 degrees.


RESULTS
13 flaps survived completely. Flap necrosis happened at the 1/7 - 1/5 distal end of the 3 flaps, which healed with dressing or local flap advancement. The patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months with satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. There was no morbidity at the donor site.


CONCLUSIONS
The flap has the advantages of both the perforator flap and the neurocutaneous flap. The size of the neurocutaneous flap with the anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve can be enlarged for the large defect at lower extremity.
Wen
Gen
G
Department of Orthopaedics, the Sixth People's Hospital Affiliate to Shanghai Jiaotong University, China.
Chai
Yi-min
YM
Zeng
Bing-fang
BF
Wang
Chun-yang
CY
Wu
Xu-hua
XH
Chen
Keng
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation*; D055815:Young Adult