title: Free perivascular tissue flap transfer.
abstract: Local flaps and composite grafting are the procedures of choice for reconstructing relatively small soft tissue defects. However, despite their limited conveyable volume, local flaps sometimes require a wide dissection area and long new incisions. Composite grafts also have serious limitations and require a well-vascularized recipient bed. To overcome these limitations, we used a free vascularized perivascular tissue flap based on the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. Using this method, we performed reconstructions for seven patients (four cases in head and neck region and three cases in lower limb) with various soft tissue defects (ranged from 4.0 cm(3) to 40.0 cm(3)). This flap was easily elevated, without the need for precise preoperative flap design, and the flap volume was adjustable regardless of whether deep fascia and muscle were included. The flap has a rich vascular supply, which allows bone and cartilage tissue to be combined with the transfer of soft tissue, and satisfactorily treats chronic wounds with poor blood supply.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan. Electronic address: matsuken@med.niigata-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tateki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Saga University Hospital, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hikasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Anterolateral thigh flap; Fascial flap; Free flap; Perifascial areolar tissue; Soft tissue defect