A simple and cost-effective protocol for the management of anterolateral thigh free-flap donor site

Background: In recent years, the composite anterolateral thigh free flap with tensor fasciae latae or vastus lateralis has been a new-applied type of flap that can provide very good reconstruction materials in complex defects of lower leg and foot. The study purpose is to evaluate the systematically complications of donor site, related factors to results of the donor area, in order to apply the result to improve the treatment, which have not been much reported in literature. Materials and Methods: Systematic donor site morbilidy evaluation in a prospective, uncontrolled clinical descriptive study of 33 composite anterolateral thigh free flaps in various forms to reconstruct anatomical structures or to resconstruct deep defects combined with covering the surfaces for complex soft tissue defects in lower extremities for 32 patients due to different causes in lower leg and foot area from 2014-2019 at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Examining and evaluating aesthetic and functional result of donor-site 3 months and 6 months up to 2 year after surgery; evaluating the correlation between the width and the type of the flaps and donor site closure methods. Result: In 33 composite flaps used, flap width to thigh circumference less than 20% in 27 cases (81.8%), more than 20% in 6 cases (18.20% ); There were 28 cases in which the donor site was directly closed, 5 cases required skin graft; All direct closed cases had flap width/ thigh circumference index below 20%; On the contrary, in cases having this index greater than 20%, the donor site required skin graft with p < 0.01. There are 11/33 (33.33%) of cases reported complications in donor site ; lateral thigh paresthesia is the most complicated complication with 8/33 cases (24.24%), followed by bad scarring 3/33 cases (9.09%). Conclusion: Long term follow up donor site morbility after composite anterior thigh free flap present 11/33 cases (33.33%): mostly complications of the donor site are thigh paresthesia with 8/33 cases (24.24%), and bad scarring 3/33 cases (9,09%), which improve time by time. Keywords: Composite anterior thigh free flap, lower extremities soft tissue defect, donor site morbidity

Download Full-text

Objective preoperative estimation of the ability of primary closure on anterolateral thigh free flap donor site: Circumference and area ratios of deep tissue to thigh

Microsurgery ◽

10.1002/micr.22080 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 270-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kyeongho Song ◽

Subong Nam ◽

Soojong Choi ◽

Joohyoung Kim ◽

Jaewoo Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Free Flap ◽

Primary Closure ◽

Donor Site ◽

Deep Tissue ◽

Anterolateral Thigh

Download Full-text

Reconstruction of a Large Through and Through Defect of the Oral Cavity Using Double Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap

Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.32412/pjohns.v29i1.459 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 26-29

Author(s):

Jefferson A. Alamani ◽

Samantha S. Castañeda ◽

Adrian F. Fernando

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Free Flap ◽

Donor Site ◽

Operating Time ◽

Soft Tissue Defect ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Anterolateral Thigh ◽

Cervical Area ◽

Alt Flap

Objective: To present our application of a double anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap in reconstruction of a large full thickness defect of the oral cavity, cheek and cervical area. Methods: Design: Case Report Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital Patient: One Results: A 77-year-old male with a 20 x 25 cm full thickness soft tissue defect on the facial and cervical area contiguous with a 6 x 6 cm buccal defect resulting from wide tumor ablation of a Stage IVA (T4aN2bM0) squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa underwent reconstruction using two ALT free flaps. An ALT flap was designed to cover the intraoral and cheek defect, while another ALT flap was used for external coverage of the cervical defect. The first ALT flap measured approximately 8 x 22 cm while the second ALT flap measured 6 x 22 cm harvested from the left and right thigh respectively. Temporary venous congestion was observed on the inferiorly placed ALT flap due to neck edema that spontaneously resolved on the 2nd post-operative day. Minimal donor site complications observed were linear scars, and a 1 x 4 cm dehiscence on the right thigh that healed spontaneously by secondary intention. Conclusion: The utilization of a double anterolateral thigh free flap allowed single-stage reconstruction of the large soft tissue head and neck defect with little donor site morbidity, shorter operating time and shorter hospital stay. Keywords: anterolateral thigh free flap (ALT flap), double ALT flap, full-thickness buccal defect

Download Full-text

Sole Reconstruction Using Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap: A Review of 4 Cases

Jurnal Plastik Rekonstruksi ◽

10.14228/jpr.v2i3.165 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Parintosa Atmodiwirjo ◽

Afriyanti Sandhi

Keyword(s):

Free Flap ◽

Weight Bearing ◽

Donor Site ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Free Flaps ◽

Donor Site Morbidity ◽

Common Procedure ◽

Anterolateral Thigh ◽

Protective Sensation ◽

And Function

Background: The ideal technique for sole reconstruction should meet such requisite as a durable and comfortable weight-bearing surface, solid anchoring to deep tissue for resistance to shear force and adequate protective sensation. The anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator free flap provides a large, pliable skin island and sufficient bulk, allowing three-dimensional tailoring to complex defects. The present article is about our experience of sole reconstruction ALT perforator free flap. Patient and Method: Total of 4 flaps in the foot defects was performed in February 2009 to December 2012. We reconstructed soft tissue defects in the sole using ALT free flaps, the complications, aesthetic and function results were monitored. Result: ALT perforator free flap provided stable and durable long-term wound cover in all patients, resulting in early rehabilitation and function outcomes were completely achieved. Complications were few and manageable in all cases. Summary: ALT perforator free flap has become common procedure in many centers around the world. The numerous advantages include stable wound coverage; improve aesthetic and functional outcomes, and minimal donor site morbidity. In our experiences, we found that the use of ALT perforator free flap in sole defect reconstruction, to be technically affordable, reliable and have resulted in excellent outcomes.

Download Full-text

Anterolateral Thigh Flap for Skull Base Reconstruction

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.otohns.2008.05.099 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. P30-P30

Author(s):

Matthew M Hanasono ◽

Neha Goel ◽

Martina Ayad ◽

Roman Skoracki ◽

Justin Michael Sacks

Keyword(s):

Skull Base ◽

Free Flap ◽

Donor Site ◽

Csf Leak ◽

Anterolateral Thigh Flap ◽

Wound Complications ◽

Skull Base Reconstruction ◽

Anterolateral Thigh ◽

Facial Reanimation ◽

Skull Base Defects

Objective 1) Review our experience with the anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap in skull base reconstruction. 2) Describe reconstructive techniques for skull base defects and dural coverage with simultaneous facial reanimation. Methods A retrospective review was performed for 25 consecutive patients with defects of the skull base who were reconstructed with the ALT free flap. Results Reconstructed sites consisted of 2 anterior, 7 lateral, and 16 posterior skull base defects. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) was administered to 32% and 36% of the patients, respectively. The overall complication rate was 36% (66% recipient site and 34% donor site). One patient developed a CSF leak and one a nasocutaneous fistula. RT was associated with a two-fold increase in wound complications relative to controls. There were no flap losses and no long-term donor site probleMS 3 nerve grafts using the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and 12 static slings for facial reanimation using the tensor fascia lata were performed simultaneously with free flap reconstruction from the same donor site. 4 gold eyelid weights, 2 lateral canthoplasties, and 3 direct browlifts were also performed simultaneously. Conclusions The ALT free flap provides reliable and versatile reconstruction of skull base defects. Primary advantages of this flap reside in the ability to harvest variable amounts of skin and vastus lateralis muscle along with nerve and fascial grafts from the same operative site, minimizing operative time and donor site morbidity. In our practice, the ALT flap represents a first-line option for composite skull base defects.

Download Full-text

Comparison of anterolateral thigh and radial forearm free flap donor site morbidity

Microsurgery ◽

10.1002/micr.20425 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 27 (8) ◽

pp. 651-654 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Christine B. Novak ◽

Joan E. Lipa ◽

Sabrena Noria ◽

Keith Allison ◽

Peter C. Neligan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Free Flap ◽

Donor Site ◽

Donor Site Morbidity ◽

Radial Forearm Free Flap ◽

Anterolateral Thigh ◽

Radial Forearm

Download Full-text

Experiência de um hospital de referência com o retalho livre anterolateral da coxa na reconstrução de extremidades

ARCHIVES OF HEALTH INVESTIGATION ◽

10.21270/archi.v9i1.4911 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nikolas Higa Benites ◽

Guilherme Leipner Margatho ◽

Fernanda Ruiz de Andrade ◽

Luis Guilherme Rosifini Alves Rezende ◽

Amanda Favaro Cagnolati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Free Flap ◽

Donor Site ◽

Free Flaps ◽

Donor Site Morbidity ◽

Anterolateral Thigh Flap ◽

Soft Tissue Reconstruction ◽

Anterolateral Thigh ◽

Anterolateral Thigh Flaps ◽

The Impact

Introdução: Com a evolução da microcirurgia ao longo dos anos o Retalho Anterolateral da Coxa vem se tornando uma das principais opções para reconstruções na cabeça, pescoço, tronco e extremidades devido sua versatilidade e confiabilidade. Objetivo: Descrever dados de um hospital terciário referência em trauma na reconstrução de extremidades com o Retalho Anterolateral da Coxa. Método: Este é um estudo retrospectivo de 18 retalhos Anterolateral da Coxa microcirúrgicos realizados entre Março de 2016 e Outubro de 2019 em pacientes de todas as idades, na reconstrução de membros, onde se observou dados referentes ao paciente: idade, sexo, membro acometido, tempo entre a lesão e a confecção do retalho; ao intraoperatório: anatomia dos vasos perfurantes, tempo cirúrgico total, vasos receptores utilizados; e informações do pós-operatório: número de cirurgias relacionadas ao retalho, necessidade de reabordagem e número de perdas. Foram excluídos pacientes que perderam seguimento ou que apresentaram dados do prontuário incompletos. Realizou-se estatística descritiva e cruzamento de algumas variáveis utilizando o teste t-Student. Resultados: Nas reconstruções houve predomínio de pacientes do sexo masculino (72%), em idade produtiva, de etiologia traumática e nos membros inferiores. O tempo médio até a reconstrução foi de 21 dias e o tempo cirúrgico foi de 384 minutos. O paciente permaneceu, em média, 39 dias internado. Dos 18 retalhos, 3 evoluíram com necrose, 2 por trombose arterial e 1 por infecção. 6 retalhos necessitaram de reaborgadem de emergência, 3 por sangramento, 2 por congestão e 1 por infecção. Foram realizadas uma média de 3 cirurgias até a alta. Foram identificadas 15 perfurantes miocutâneas (83%) e 3 septocutâneas (17%). A análise do sucesso do retalho em relação ao tempo cirúrgico e dos dias até a cirurgia não mostrou significância estatística, assim como a necessidade de reabordagem em relação ao tempo cirúrgico. Conclusão: O retalho Anterolateral da Coxa mostrou-se confiável, além de apresentar diversas vantagens como: por ser retirado com uma grande ilha de pele, apresentar pedículo longo, vasos de bom calibre, não necessitar de mudança de decúbito e apresentar baixa morbidade da área doadora.Descritores: Retalho Miocutâneo; Microcirurgia; Hospitais Especializados.ReferênciasDaniel RK, Taylor GI. Distant transfer of an island flap by microvascular anastomoses. A clinical technique. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1973;52(2):111-17.Ninkovic M, Voigt S, Dornseifer U, Lorenz S, Ninkovic M. Microsurgical advances in extremity salvage. Clin Plast Surg. 2012;39(4):491-505.Tamimy MS, Rashid M, Ehtesham-ul-Haq, Aman S, Aslam A, Ahmed RS. Has the anterolateral thigh flap replaced the latissimus dorsi flap as the workhorse for lower limb reconstructions? J Pak Med Assoc. 2010; 60(2):76-81.Spyropoulou A, Jeng SF. Microsurgical coverage reconstruction in upper and lower extremities. Semin Plast Surg. 2010;24(1):34-42.Xiong L, Gazyakan E, Kremer T, Hernekamp FJ, Harhaus L, Saint-Cyr M et al. Free flaps for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in lower extremity: a meta-analysis on microsurgical outcome and safety. Microsurgery. 2016; 36(6):511-24.Song YG, Chen GZ, Song YL. The free thigh flap: a new free flap concepted based on the septocutaneous artery. Br J Plast Surg. 1984; 37(2):149-59.Wei FC, Jain V, Celik N, Chen HC, Chuang DC, Lin CH. Have we found an ideal soft-tissue flap? An experience with 672 anterolateral thigh flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;109(7):2219-26Kimata Y, Uchiyama K, Ebihara S, Nakatsuka T, Harii K. Anatomic variation and technical problems of the anterolateral thigh flap: A report of 74 cases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998; 102(5):1517-23Spindler N, Al-Benna S, Ring A, Homann H, Steinsträsser L, Steinau HU et al. Free anterolateral thigh flaps for upper extremity soft tissue reconstruction. GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW. 2015;4:Doc05.Kimura N, Satoh K, Hasumi T, Ostuka T. Clinical application of the free thin anterolateral thigh flap in 31 consecutive patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001;108(5):1197-210.Collins J, Ayeni O, Thoma A. A systematic review of anterolateral thigh flap donor site morbidity. Can J Plast Surg. 2012;20(1):17-23.Kuo YR, Jeng SF, Kuo MH, Huang MN, Liu YT, Chiang YC et al. Free anterolateral thigh flap for extremity reconstruction: Clinical experience and functional assessment of donor site. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001;107(7):1766-71Novak CB, Lipa JE, Noria S, Allison K, Neligan PC, Gilbert RW. Comparison of anterolateral thigh and radial forearm free flap donor site morbidity. Microsurgery. 2007;27(8):651-54.Pagano M, Gauvreau K. Princípios de Bioestatística. São Paulo: Pioneira Thomson Learning; 2004.SAS Institute Inc., SAS/STAT® User’s Guide. Version 9.4. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.Arruda LRP, Silva MAC, Malerba FG, Turíbio FM, Fernandes MC, Matsumoto MH. Fraturas expostas: estudo epidemiológico e prospectivo. Acta ortop bras. 2009;17(6):326-30.Cunha FM, Braga GF, Drumond Jr SN, Figueiredo CTO. Epidemiologia de 1.212 fraturas expostas. Rev Bras Ortop. 1998;33(6):451-56.Court-Brown CM, Rimmer S, Prakash U, McQueen MM. The epidemiology of open long bone fractures. Injury. 1998;29(7):529-34.Shabtai M, Rosin D, Zmora O, Munz Y, Scarlat A, Shabtai EL et al. The impact of a resident’s seniority on operative time and length of hospital stay for laparoscopic appendectomy: outcomes used to measure the resident’s laparoscopic skills. Surg Endosc. 2004;18(9):1328-30.Godina M. Early microsurgical reconstruction of complex trauma of the extremities. Plast Reconstr Surg.1986;78:285-292Smit JM, Acosta R, Zeebregts CJ, Liss AG, Anniko M, Hartman EH. Early reintervention of compromised free flaps improves success rate. Microsurgery. 2007;27(7):612-16.

Download Full-text