title: [DESIGN AND APPLICATION OF ANTEROLATERAL THIGH FREE FLAP WITH OBLIQUE BRANCH].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of the anterolateral thigh free flap with the oblique branch in reconstructing the soft tissue defects of lower extremity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2009 and February 2013, 12 patients (including 7 males and 5 females) with soft tissue defects of lower extremity were treated with the anterolateral thigh free flap with the oblique branch, aged from 8 to 42 years (median, 32 years). The locations of soft tissue defect were the dorsum of the foot in 5 cases, the ankle and foot in 4 cases, the lower leg in 2 cases, and the distal foot in 1 case. All defects were associated with exposure of tendon and bone. The size of the wound was from 15 cm x 7 cm to 27 cm x 12 cm. The interval of injury and operation was 1 to 7 days (mean, 3.7 days). The anterolateral thigh flap was pedicled with only the oblique branch in 7 patients, and with the both descending branch and oblique branch in 5 patients, and the size of flap was from 17 cm x 9 cm to 30 cm x 15 cm. The donor sites were repaired by suture in 3 patients, and by skin graft in 9 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distal skin flap necrosis occurred in 1 case, and was cured after dressing change and skin graft. The other flaps survived, and the donor site healed primarily. The follow-up time was from 10 months to 2 years (mean, 18 months). Thinning operation was performed in 3 cases, and the other flaps recovered pain and warm sensation with good appearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is a safe and effective method to reconstruct soft tissue defects of the lower extremity with the anterolateral thigh flap pedicled with the oblique branch.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Qiuming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zhilin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qiaoqiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gai
mesh_terms: D000842:Ankle; D000843:Ankle Joint; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013537:Sutures; D013639:Tarsal Bones; D013710:Tendons; D013848:Thigh / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*