title: [Soft tissue reconstruction in the extremities and the head and neck area using the anterolateral thigh free flap].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stable soft tissue coverage of exposed bone, tendons, or hardware in the extremities or the head and neck area with a microsurgically grafted free flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soft tissue defects measuring up to 42 × 15 cm in the extremities and the head and neck region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previous surgery or trauma in the anterolateral thigh region. Insufficient personnel and/or technical resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  A line is marked from the anterior superior iliac spine to the superolateral patella pole, approaching the intermuscular septum between the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscle. The flap is centred on this line and after medial incision the perforators of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery are identified and dissected to their origin. Afterwards the lateral incision is carried out and flap dissection is completed. After flap transfer microsurgical anastomoses are performed and the flap is sutured to the recipient region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flap monitoring for 1 week. Strict elevation and immobilization after flap transfer to the extremities; bedrest for 1 week. Thrombosis prophylaxis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2008-2011, 41 free anterolateral thigh flaps in 5 women and 36 men with an average age of 53 years (38-70 years) were performed for microsurgical soft tissue reconstruction. Total flap loss rate was 2.4 % and reoperation due to complications, e.g., hematoma, problems with microsurgical anastomosis, and partial flap loss was necessary in 13.8 % of patients.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder Salzburg, Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität Salzburg, Kajetanerplatz 1, 5020, Salzburg, Österreich. florian.ensat@gmx.at
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ensat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hladik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reichl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larcher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wechselberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome