• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.112-119
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• 2010

The anterolateral thigh flap is a reliable and versatile flap. It has been extensively used for soft tissue reconstruction because minimal donor site morbidity is attractive feature of this flap. It can be harvested as a cutaneous, fasciocutaneous, muscluocutaneous flap. We can be used to form as desired shape and thickness. But variation of vascular anatomy make difficult for many surgeons. We review of vascular anatomy of the anterolateral thigh to be easier access to surgery. With understanding anatomic variation, it allows you to take advantage of this surgery using little more variable form.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of anterolateral thigh free flap on soft tissue defect following wide excision in malignant soft tissue tumor of lower extremities. Methods: Between February 2005 to April 2010, we followed up 19 cases who were undergoing anterolateral thigh free flap because of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity, including 9 cases were heel, 5 cases in foot, 3 cases in ankle, 2 cases in knee and leg. We observed that of implanted area's color, peripheral circulation at 3, 5, 7 days after operation and evaluated operating time, amount of hemorrhage, implanted skin necrosis, additional operations, complications. And we also evaluated the oncologic results, including local recurrence, metastasis, and morbidity. Results: Average operation time of wide excision and anterolateral thigh free flap was 7 hour 28 minutes. 18(94.7%) of total 19 cases showed successful engraftment, on the other hand, failure of engraftment due to complete necrosis of flap in 1 case. In 18 cases with successful engraftment, reoperation was performed in 4 cases. Among them, removal of hematoma and engraftment of flap after bleeding control was performed in 3 cases, because of insufficient circulation due to the hematoma. In the remaining 1 case, graft necrosis due to flap infection was checked, and grafted after combination of wound debridement and conservative treatment such as antibiotics therapy, also skin graft was performed at debrided skin defect area. Skin color change was mainly due to congestion with hematoma, flap was not observed global congestion or necrosis except 4 cases which shows partial necrosis on margin that treated with conservative therapy. Conclusions: Anterolateral thigh free flap could be recommended for reconstruction of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity.

• 대한족부족관절학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the results of anterolateral thigh perforator free flap for reconstruction of foot and ankle in old diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Fifteen diabetic foot ulcer patients over the age of 55 were operated with anterolateral thigh perforator free flap. Hematological, hemodynamic, diabetic, bacteriologic and radiologic tests were checked with examination of blood vessel state in both the donor site and the recipient site. After surgery, serial check-up was performed at 6 week, 6 month, and 1 year postoperatively on the survival of transplantation tissue, condition of foot, and condition of walking. Results: There are one case of transplantation failure and four cases of partial tissue-necrosis. Delayed wound-healing was observed both recipient and donor tissue sites. At the final follow up, three cases of small ulcer were found at junction of flap and recipient tissue in plantar area. Fourteen out of fifteen patients could walk without any brace or walking aids. Conclusion: Reconstruction of foot and ankle region in old diabetic patients with the anterolateral thigh perforator free flap is a useful method which can prevent the amputation of foot and ankle.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.485-489
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• 2007

Purpose: The basic vascular anatomy and versatility of the anterolateral thigh flap was reported firstly by Song in 1984 and then by Zhang who introduced the reverse flow pattern of this flap. In this case, the authors reviewed various articles and their experiences with the distally based anterolateral thigh flap and applied it for coverage of bone-exposed wound occurred at the distal of the disarticulated knee stump. We consequently reported the reliability and resourcefulness of this flap in the difficult and limited situation. Methods: A 67-year-old-man who had suffered from arteriosclerotic obliterans inevitably underwent the disarticulation at knee joint due to clinical deterioration. He presented to our clinic with soft tissue necrosis and bone exposure at the stump. We debrided the wound and conducted the distally based anterolateral thigh island flap by transecting proximal portion of descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and the $14{\times}10cm$ sized flap was transferred to cover the defect. The pedicle measured 14 cm in length with pivot point 7 cm above the patella. Results: The postoperative course was mainly uneventful except early venous congestion for 4 days and subsequent partial skin loss. The wound was healed by secondary intension and no other sequelae had been observed during follow-up period of 12 months. Conclusion: Despite the presence of various reconstructive choices, the distally based anterolateral thigh island flap can be designed to repair soft tissue defects around the knee region, providing its reliable blood supply and long pedicle length, especially in the challenging cases.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.96-101
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• 2011

Reconstruction of soft tissue defect of knee joint area has been remained a challenging task for plastic surgeons. The earlier the normal tissue saved and the necrotic tissue removed, the less the patients had complications and functional disability. But such defects are difficult to manage for its poor vascularity, rigid tissue distensibility, easy infectability and a relatively long healing period. The goal of flap coverage in the knee joint should not only be satisfactory wound coverage, but also acceptable appearance and minimal donor site morbidity. We have treated five cases using the anterolateral thigh perforator flaps for reconstruction successfully. In conclusion, we believe that in cases of knee joint area soft tissue defects, flaps like anterolateral thigh perforator flap should be considered as the first line of treatment.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.526-530
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• 2009

Recently, the anterolateral thigh(ALT) flap, based on the septocutaneous vessels or musculocutaneous perforators from the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery has gained popularity in head and neck soft-tissue reconstruction. It has some advantages in free-flap surgery with respect to the radial forearm free flap, such as low donor site morbidity, availability of different tissues with large amounts of skin, adaptability as a sensate or flow-through flap (with the possibility of harvesting a long pedicle with a suitable vessel diameter). Moreover, the thickness of the flap is adjustable until the subdermal fat level, allowing it to be used as a thin or ultrathin flap. This clinical cases are ALT free flap reconstructions without functional impairment of the donor limbs (transitory and permanent) based on anastomosis with superficial temporal arteries and veins in patient of huge resection defect on face, lip and tongue.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.70-76
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• 2006

This study investigated the clinical application of anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap in reconstruction of soft tissue defect of lower extremity. There were twenty-one patients who had been taken soft tissue reconstruction with anterolateral thigh perforator flap. There were 19 males and 2 females between 3 and 65 years (mean, 36 years). This study included 4 cases of pedatric case of under 10-year-old. All cases were a cutaneous flap. Flap size averaged $160\;cm^2\;(20{\sim}450\;cm^2)$. 19 cases were musculocutaneous perforator flaps and 2 were septocutaneous perforator. T-shaped pedicle were used to reconstruct and to preserve major artery of lower extremity in 2 cases. 19 cases flaps survived completely and 2 cases flap were marginal necrosis partially. There was venous congestion in one case of type of reverse island flap but that was improved after salvage procedure with leech. While the donor sites were closed directly in 5cases, 16 cases underwent skin graft. ALT flap is suitable for coverage of defects in lower extremity where have various condition and reliable in children as in adult.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.117-124
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• 2005

Purpose: To present our experience and design modification of an anterolateral thigh flap in soft tissue reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Between April of 2004 and May of 2005, 26 anterolateral thigh flaps were used in 26 patients. There were 22 males and 4 females between 23 and 60 years (mean, 40years). The mean follow-up period was 11($4{\sim}18$) months. All cases were a cutaneous flap. Twenty-two were musculocutaneous perforator flaps(85%) and 4 were septocutaneous perforator flaps(15%). Four flaps were used as a sensate flap. While the donor sites were closed directly in 14 cases(54%), 12 cases(46%) underwent skin grafting of the donor site. During the flap design, a triangular skin design was added to a vascular anastomosis site in 14(54%) patients and used as a roof of the tunnel. The healing period of the skin graft between those performed above the fascia and above the muscle were compared. Results: The average size of the flaps was $16{\times}9(11-20{\times}7-12)\;cm$. The overall flap success rate was 96%. Complications encountered were infection in 4 cases, and marginal skin necrosis in 1 case. The healing period was delayed with the infection in 3 of the 6 cases involving a skin graft over the fascia. All 14 cases with the triangular skin design survived, but there was 1 flap failure and 1 marginal necrosis in 12 cases without a triangular skin design. Conclusions: It may be better to undergo a skin graft above the muscle than above the fascia in covering a donor site defect, and to use a triangular skin design in order to prevent vascular insufficiency. An anterolateral thigh flap is a versatile flap for a soft tissue reconstruction because its thickness and volume can be adjusted to the extent of the defect with minimal donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.444-447
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• 2022

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the knee is challenging, and the most common solution is to use various locoregional flaps or, in some difficult cases, a free flap. The distally based anterolateral thigh (dALT) flap is a commonly used flap that relies on reverse blood flow from the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (d-LCFA). Here, we present the case of an anteromedial knee reconstruction using a dALT flap after resection of a pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma. The tumor resection resulted in a 14 × 7 cm defect, and a dALT flap, measuring 20 × 8 cm was elevated. During the surgery, we found a robust oblique branch of the LCFA (o-LCFA) sending off two sizable perforators to the anterolateral thigh region, whereas the d-LCFA was relatively small with no usable perforators. Therefore, we harvested a dALT flap relying on reverse flow from the o-LCFA. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and the flap survived without complications. This report demonstrates that reverse flow from the o-LCFA may be an alternative to nourish a dALT flap in cases where the d-LCFA is hypoplastic or suitable perforators from the d-LCFA are unavailable.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.457-460
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• 2010

Purpose: The great toe presents a reconstructive challenge for plastic surgeons. The big toe has much importance not only for the gait and the stability, but also for appearance aspects. Few reports have documented the reconstruction of big toe defects and we report a unique case of free flap reconstruction technique. Methods: A 41-year-old man with right great toe open fracture with soft tissue necrosis was referred from the orthopedic surgery department. On physical examination, there was the skin necrosis circumferentially and the fratured bone was severely fragmented. The metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the big toe was intact. After the wound debridement, we harvested the innervated anterolateral thigh flap and transposed to the defected area. After five months, we finally retouched the flap by the dorsal defatting and distal debulking. Results: He had an uneventful postoperative course without infection, dehiscence and flap necrosis. He has remained asymptomatic for eight months without any recurrence such as the osteomyelitis. Finally, he kept the normal gait and posture with weight bearing on the reconstructed great toe and foot. Conclusion: The anterolateral thigh flap is described for the reconstruction of the great toe. It involves two stage procedure with the minimal donor site morbidity and provides a good cosmetic result.