title: Lateral thoracic perforator flap: additional perforator flap option from the lateral thoracic region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perforator flaps from the lateral thoracic region have not been as popular as other donor sites because of the misconception that the vascular anatomy in this region is less than predictable. However, the skin over the lateral thoracic region is vascularised by three rows of perforators of varied vascular dominance. Two perforator flaps from this region based on the middle and the posterior row of perforators from the thoracodorsal artery have been described. The lateral thoracic perforator flap based on the anterior row of perforators is another useful option.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients underwent reconstructions using the lateral thoracic perforator flap for various defects in the head and neck region and lower limbs as a result of tumour extirpation, crush injury and chronic wound with osteomyelitis. All flaps were raised in the supine position. Three flaps were raised in a chimaeric fashion. The largest flap was 20×12 cm and the mean size was 106 cm2. All flaps survived without major complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lateral thoracic perforator flap is a reliable reconstructive option. It can be readily configured in terms of size, thickness and tissue composition. However, it is not the first-choice flap from this region because the resultant donor scar tends to extend visibly beyond the anterior axillary fold and the arterial and venous pedicles frequently have separate courses. The lateral thoracic region has become a versatile and universal donor site for free-style flap harvest with this additional flap option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-Dong, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul 133-792, South Korea. ps360@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Jeong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Siew-Weng
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Shenthilkumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naidu
authors.forename: Jong Do
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013909:Thorax / Q000098:blood supply; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting