title: Application of proximal lateral leg perforator flaps for head and neck reconstructions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analyze the reliability, complications, and donor site morbidity of the proximal lateral leg flap when applied to head and neck reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series and chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients who underwent reconstruction of various head and neck defects with this flap were analyzed. The patient demographics, flap characteristics, method of donor site closure, scars of the donor area, complication rates, as well as functional results at the recipient site were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flap size ranged from 4 × 4 cm to 11 × 8 cm. Vascular pedicle length ranged from 5 to 9 cm. The mean distance of the perforator from the fibula head was 9.2 cm. The mean thickness of this flap was 5.5 mm. All the donor wounds were closed primarily. The flap survival rate was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This flap has the advantages of thinness, short harvesting time, minimal donor site morbidity, and primary closure at the donor site when the flap width is less than 6 cm. This flap may be useful for reconstruction in selected patients with small and thin heads and neck defects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Dalin, Taiwan School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Honda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan Department of Otolaryngology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Peir-Rong
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan Division of Plastic Surgery, Buddhist Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sou-Hsin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan Division of Plastic Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan ljt1225@ms43.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Jiunn-Tat
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000009:adverse effects; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D060053:Transplant Donor Site; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: head and neck; perforator flap; proximal lateral leg