[Anatomic study of anterolateral thigh perforators flap and its clinical significance in reconstruction of head and neck defects].
OBJECTIVE
To study the anatomy of the anterolateral thigh perforators flap and explore its clinical application in the reconstruction of head and neck defects.


METHODS
Five adult fresh cadavers were prepared, and morphosis and blood supply of anterolateral thigh flap perforators were examined by microsurgery anatomy. During dissections, the following parameters were recorded: number and type of perforators vessels, diameter of perforators, pedicle length, diameter of the original vessels, route (infra fascia and supra fascia); its position were located by anatomical landmark.


RESULTS
There were an average of (4.4 +/- 1.8) anterolateral thigh perforators flaps (ALTP flap) in each specimen with 68.2% musculocutaneous perforator and 31.8% septocutaneous perforator. The mean pedicle length of the largest perforator was (10.86 +/- 1.18) cm (8.29-14.44) cm, and its location was constantly concentrated in the superolateral region of the midpoint of the line linking the anterosuperior iliac spine and superolateral border of the patella. The distance between surface location of the largest perforator and the midpoint was (3.25 +/- 0.69) cm. Original vessel was mostly descend branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery/vein with average diameter of (3.16 +/- 0.59) / (3.08 +/- 0.02) mm.


CONCLUSIONS
ALTP flap has constant position, large caliber, and long pedicle and therefore is useful for operation and option in reconstruction of head neck defects.
Laboratory of Morphology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100005, China.
Yun
Y
Feng
Wen-ting
WT
Li
Nai-li
NL
Wang
Ping-zhang
PZ
Tang
Zhen-gang
ZG
Xu
Bin
B
Zhang
D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013848:Thigh / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery