title: [Repair of the soft tissue defects at legs with free tissue flap anastomosed with descendant branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the therapeutic effect of free tissue flap anastomosed with reverse descendant branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery for severe soft tissue defect at leg.
  
  
  METHODS
  The severe soft tissue defect at leg, without any vessels for anastomosis of free tissue flap, was reconstructed with free tissue flap, which was anastomosed with proximal end of descendant branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery and great saphenous vein. From Oct. 2004 to Dec. 2009, 36 cases were treated with 15 cases of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps, 12 cases of anterolateral femoral flaps, and 9 cases of thoracoumbilicus flaps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 36 free flaps survived completely. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2.5 years with good cosmetic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is effective and practical to repair the severe soft tissue defects at legs with the reverse descendant branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery to carry the free flaps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan 063000, China.
authors.forename: Shun-hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Xiao-xuan
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Lai-qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wen-long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui-shuang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui-ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: De-qun
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult