title: Expanding the applications of the pedicled anterolateral thigh and vastus lateralis myocutaneous flaps.
abstract: We describe our experience in expanding the use of pedicled anterolateral thigh and vastus lateralis myocutaneous flaps. A total of 33 patients underwent 34 flaps between March 2003 and January 2012. The defects included 18 ischial, 3 trochanteric, 5 lower abdomen, 2 perineogenital, 1 groin, and 5 knee defects. There were 29 proximal pedicled (2 of which were preexpanded), 3 distal pedicled, and 2 propeller flaps. Complications included 1 total necrosis, 1 partial necrosis, 3 wound dehiscence in recipient site, 1 hematoma, and 1 donor-site dehiscence. The total flap survival rate was 94%. There were no donor-site morbidities except poor cosmesis in the skin-grafted sites. Pedicled anterolateral thigh flap is highly versatile with a wide arc of rotation. A proximal pedicled flap can be used for lower abdomen, perineogenital, ischial, and trochanteric defects and the distal pedicled or a propeller flap for knee and proximal lower leg defects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Tzu Chi Dalin General Hospital, Dalin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Honda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Sou-Hsin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Chien-Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Fu
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chih-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Meng-Si
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chieh-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jiunn-Tat
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002369:Castration / Q000009:adverse effects; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D018934:Fournier Gangrene / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome