title: Vein/Arterial Grafts Harvested within the Incision for a Free Groin Flap.
abstract: The free groin flap results in less donor-site morbidity than other skin flaps and is suitable for use in children and adolescents. However, the vascular pedicle is relatively short and vessel diameter is small, which makes vascular anastomosis technically difficult. To overcome this limitation, we harvested vein and arterial grafts from the flap elevation area without placing additional skin incisions. Use of short (2-3 cm) vein/arterial grafts greatly simplified flap insetting and vascular anastomosis. This procedure may expand the indications for free groin flap transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, 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; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Tateki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiteru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosokawa