title: Anterolateral thigh free flap for the reconstruction of through and through defect of cheek following cancer ablation.
abstract: The anterolateral thigh flap is a highly versatile and reliable flap for use in the reconstruction of various soft-tissue defects of the head and neck. This flap has gained great popularity due to its versatility, ability for a two-team approach, and minimal donor site morbidity. However, it has not met the same enthusiasm in the armamentarium of Maxillofacial Surgeons due to its relative difficulty in perforator dissection, reported variations of the vascular anatomy, and the presumed increased thickness of the anterolateral thigh tissue. These obstacles may be overcome by increased surgical experience and by the ability to create a thinner suprafacial flap or thinning the flap after it has been obtained. We have described the versatility of this flap for the reconstruction of the through and through defect of cheek following cancer ablation along with difficulties in raising flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Implantology, MA Rangoonwala College of Dental Sciences and Research Center, Pune, MUHS, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.forename: Bipin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patwardhan
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.forename: Muhamad Nishad
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Thayath
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D061525:Perforator Flap; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013848:Thigh