Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap
Background The anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap has become a popular option for treating soft tissue defects of lower extremity reconstruction and can be combined with a segment of the vastus lateralis muscle. We present a comparison of the use of the ALT fasciocutaneous (ALT-FC) and myocu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
2012-07-01
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| Series: | Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.5999/aps.2012.39.4.367 |
| _version_ | 1817994884902027264 |
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| author | Min Jae Lee In Sik Yun Dong Kyun Rah Won Jai Lee |
| author_facet | Min Jae Lee In Sik Yun Dong Kyun Rah Won Jai Lee |
| author_sort | Min Jae Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap has become a popular option for treating soft tissue defects of lower extremity reconstruction and can be combined with a segment of the vastus lateralis muscle. We present a comparison of the use of the ALT fasciocutaneous (ALT-FC) and myocutaneous flaps.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients in whom free-tissue transfer was performed between 2005 and 2011 for the reconstruction of lower extremity soft-tissue defects. Twenty-four patients were divided into two groups: reconstruction using an ALT-FC flap (12 cases) and reconstruction using a vastus lateralis myocutaneous (VL-MC) flap (12 cases). Postoperative complications, functional results, cosmetic results, and donor-site morbidities were studied.
Results Complete flap survival was 100% in both groups. A flap complication was noted in one case (marginal dehiscence) of the ALT-FC group, and no complications were noted in the VL-MC group. In both groups, one case of partial skin graft loss occurred at the donor site, and debulking surgeries were needed for two cases. There were no significant differences in the mean scores for either functional or cosmetic outcomes in either group.
Conclusions The VL-MC flap is able to fill occasional dead space and has comparable survival rates to ALT-FC with minimal donor-site morbidity. Additionally, the VL-MC flap is easily elevated without myocutaneous perforator injury. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:58:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63e97444bd71417f81be87b5cb7cbf1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-6163 2234-6171 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:58:00Z |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Plastic Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-63e97444bd71417f81be87b5cb7cbf1a2022-12-22T02:18:56ZengThieme Medical Publishers, Inc.Archives of Plastic Surgery2234-61632234-61712012-07-01390436737510.5999/aps.2012.39.4.367Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous FlapMin Jae Lee0In Sik Yun1Dong Kyun Rah2Won Jai Lee3Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaBackground The anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap has become a popular option for treating soft tissue defects of lower extremity reconstruction and can be combined with a segment of the vastus lateralis muscle. We present a comparison of the use of the ALT fasciocutaneous (ALT-FC) and myocutaneous flaps. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients in whom free-tissue transfer was performed between 2005 and 2011 for the reconstruction of lower extremity soft-tissue defects. Twenty-four patients were divided into two groups: reconstruction using an ALT-FC flap (12 cases) and reconstruction using a vastus lateralis myocutaneous (VL-MC) flap (12 cases). Postoperative complications, functional results, cosmetic results, and donor-site morbidities were studied. Results Complete flap survival was 100% in both groups. A flap complication was noted in one case (marginal dehiscence) of the ALT-FC group, and no complications were noted in the VL-MC group. In both groups, one case of partial skin graft loss occurred at the donor site, and debulking surgeries were needed for two cases. There were no significant differences in the mean scores for either functional or cosmetic outcomes in either group. Conclusions The VL-MC flap is able to fill occasional dead space and has comparable survival rates to ALT-FC with minimal donor-site morbidity. Additionally, the VL-MC flap is easily elevated without myocutaneous perforator injury.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.5999/aps.2012.39.4.367free tissue flapslower extremityquadriceps muscle |
| spellingShingle | Min Jae Lee In Sik Yun Dong Kyun Rah Won Jai Lee Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap Archives of Plastic Surgery free tissue flaps lower extremity quadriceps muscle |
| title | Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap |
| title_full | Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap |
| title_fullStr | Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap |
| title_short | Lower Extremity Reconstruction Using Vastus Lateralis Myocutaneous Flap versus Anterolateral Thigh Fasciocutaneous Flap |
| title_sort | lower extremity reconstruction using vastus lateralis myocutaneous flap versus anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap |
| topic | free tissue flaps lower extremity quadriceps muscle |
| url | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.5999/aps.2012.39.4.367 |
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