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Versatility of the Free Anterolateral Thigh Flap for Reconstruction of Head and Neck Defects
Yoshihiro Kimata, MD;
Kiyotaka Uchiyama, MD;
Satoshi Ebihara, MD;
Takashi Yoshizumi, MD;
Masao Asai, MD;
Masahisa Saikawa, MD;
Ryuichi Hayashi, MD;
Yoko Jitsuiki, MD;
Kazuhiko Majima, MD;
Waichiro Ohyama, MD;
Tatsumasa Haneda, MD;
Takashi Nakatsuka, MD;
Kiyonori Harii, MD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123(12):1325-1331.
Abstract
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Objective
The anterolateral thigh flap has many advantages in head and neck reconstruction. However, it has not yet come into widespread use because of the anatomic variations of its perforators. Herein, we describe a safe operative technique related to the patterns of the perforators and discuss its wide versatility.
Setting
A national cancer center hospital.
Patients
Thirty-eight anterolateral thigh flaps were transferred. Confirmation and dissection of the flap pedicle were simultaneously performed with tumor resection. The design and elevation of the flap were carried out immediately after the tumor resection was completed.
Results
From the study of the anatomic variations of the perforators, septocutaneous patterns were recognized in 10 cases (26.3%) and musculocutaneous patterns in 28 cases (73.7%). All flaps were easily and safely elevated with our techniques. Thirty-six flaps survived. Partial necrosis was noted owing to excessive thinning procedure in one patient and total necrosis was noted owing to venous thrombosis at the anastomosis part in another patient.
Conclusions
We found that the anterolateral thigh flap has numerous advantages. It is possible to perform the flap elevation and the tumor resection simultaneously. The flap is generally thin and is suitable for reconstruction of intraoral defects. Combined flaps with neighboring tissues and other, distant flaps can be used. Furthermore, since our technique minimizes the problems of confirmation and dissection of the perforators, we conclude that this flap can be successfully used to repair a variety of large defects of the head and neck.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123:1325-1331
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Drs Kimata and Uchiyama) and Head and Neck Surgery (Dr Ebihara, Yoshizumi, Asai, Saikawa, Hayashi, and Jitsuiki), National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan; the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan (Drs Majima, Ohyama, and Haneda); and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; University of Tokyo (Drs Nakatsuka and Harii).
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