Anatomic study of the anterolateral thigh flap / "Estudo anatômico do retalho perfurante ântero-lateral da coxa"

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: The anterolateral thigh flap is based on the perforator vessels of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. This flap has very interesting characteristics for the reconstructive surgery, like the small thickness, long pedicle and excellent donor site. On the other hand, there are many controversial data on the literature about the perforator vessels and the pedicle course of this flap. The aims of this study are to establish some anatomical parameters and clear some controversies. METHOD: A hundred thighs of 50 cadavers were studied for: 1- The number and location of the perforator vessels. 2- The course of the perforator pedicles. 3- The intramuscular course. 4- The length of the intramuscular course. 5- The total length of the vascular pedicle. 6- The diameter of the vessels. and 7- The thickness of the flap. RESULTS: 1- There were found from 0 to 4 perforators per thigh, all in a 6cm radius from the mid point between the anterosuperior iliac spine and the lateral border of the patella. 2- The pedicles was musculocutaneous in 75,76% of the thighs and septocutaneous in 24,24%. 3- Among the musculocutaneous pedicles, 86,67% had a direct intramuscular course, and 13,33% had indirect course. 4- The mean length of the intramuscular course was 3,67 ± 2,01 cm. 5- The mean total pedicle length was 11,31 ± 3,12 cm. 6-The mean artery diameter on the origin of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery was 2,21 ± 0,85 mm and the mean vein diameter on the same spot was 2,66 ±1,33 mm and 2,10 ± 1,11 mm. 7- The mean subcutaneous fat tissue thickness was 8,98 ± 6,23 mm and the mean skin thickness was e 1,60 ± 0,76 mm. CONCLUSIONS: 1- There was a possibility of finding no perforators of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. 2- When present, the perforators pedicles were found in numbers between 1 to 4, always in a 6cm radius from the mid point between the anterosuperior iliac spine and the lateral border of the patella. 3- The perforators pedicles courses were predominantly musculocutaneous. 4- The intramuscular courses were mainly indirect. 5- The intramuscular length was responsible for 31,69% of the total length of the vascular pedicle. 6- The total length of the pedicle was adequate for either local or microsurgical transfers. 7- The arterial and venous diameters were adequate for microsurgical anastomosis. 8- The female cadavers had significantly thicker flaps, but both in the male and the female cadavers the flap was considerably thin.

ASSUNTO(S)

perfurantes retalhos cirúrgicos/ irrigação sangüínea retalhos cirúrgicos/ estatística &dados numéricos surgical flaps/blood supply estudo anatômico anatomia reconstruction surgical flaps/utilization anatomy coxas/anatomia &histologia flaps microsurgery cirurgia plástica reconstructive surgery anatomic study retalhos cirúrgicos/utilização coxas/irrigação sangüínea microcirurgia thigh/blood supply retalhos cirurgia reparadora reconstrução surgical flaps/statistics &numerical data thigh/anatomy &histology perforators plastic surgery

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