title: Posterior thigh flap revisited: clinical use in oncology patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The posterior thigh flap is a reliable flap owing to the dependability of the inferior gluteal artery. Its utility for the reconstruction of sacral, perineal, ischial, pelvic, trochanteric and vulvar defects is well established. We herein describe the use of the flap for a variety of indications, and discuss the results with respect to postoperative complications in oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed nine oncology patients who were treated with pedicled posterior thigh flaps. We assessed the use of this treatment by recording the site of the defect, the type of flap used, and the presence or absence of previous surgical procedures, radiation therapy and postoperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Defects after resection of soft tissue sarcomas were the most common condition (n = 4), followed by skin cancers (n = 2), gastrointestinal cancers (n = 2) and radiation osteomyelitis (n = 1). Six patients (66 %) developed complications; three (33 %) were major and three (33 %) were minor. There was one case of total necrosis of the flap and two cases of partial necrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In oncology patients, the posterior thigh flap is an excellent choice for the reconstruction of sacral, ischial, pelvic or buttock defects, since it does not cause any donor site morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hokkaido Cancer Center, Kikusui 4-2, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo, 003-0804, Japan, rogoredo84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minakawa
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isu
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiraga
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osanai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002081:Buttocks; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome