• 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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• 제37권6호
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• pp.769-774
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• 2010

Purpose: As the soft tissue defect around the knee is difficult to reconstruct, local flap or free flap is used. Distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap introduced by Zhang uses sufficient reverse flow supplied from the vascular network around the knee. We report successful reconstruction of defect around knee by this method. Methods: Four patients with skin & soft tissue defect around knee have been treated for reconstruction using the distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap. First, the doppler was used to check the perforator flap of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and to draw and dissect the perforator flap as much as needed. After the dissection, the proximal of the descending branch was clamped and checked for sufficient supply of blood flow from the reverse flow and then ligated. It was dissected along the descending branch and in order to prevent damage to the joined parts of the descending branch and the lateral superior geniculate artery, a more careful ligation was done starting from 10 cm superior to the knee. The defect was reconstructed after securing enough vascular pedicle to cover all the damaged parts. Results: Not all patients suffered from flap necrosis. In case of the patient with chronic osteomyelitis, slight venous congestion was observed right after the surgery but it disappeared the following day. All three patients had no occurences of additional complications. Conclusion: Distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap was enough to provide large flap for knee reconstruction. It had sufficient blood flow and vascular pedicle. It also had taken short operation time compared to the free flap operation. The distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap used by the authors is a very useful way of reconstructing the area around knee.

• 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 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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• 제20권1호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2011

During below knee amputation, the amputation stump must be covered with well-vascularized and sensate soft tissue. Many flaps can be used for this purpose, but available reconstructive options are limited. We performed reverse flow ALT flap elevation on two patients with below knee amputations to reconstruct defects in the stumps. The sizes of the defects in the stumps were $4{\times}16$ cm and $5{\times}5$ cm, respectively. The most distal portion of the defects were located 20 cm and 16 cm lateral to the knee joint in a curve, respectively. The size of the elevated flap was $5{\times}18$ cm for case 1 and $18{\times}10$ cm for case 2. The respective pivot points of the pedicles were 7 cm and 6 cm above the patella and the respective lengths of the pedicles were 17 cm and 16 cm. In both cases, venous congestion occurred on the second postoperative day and the flap distal to 10 cm or more from below the knee joint was necrotized at the second postoperative week. Surgeons should be cautious when using a reverse ALT flap to reconstruct a soft tissue defect located 10 cm or more distal from below the knee joint. Since a pedicle longer than 15 cm may develop partial necrosis of the flap, simultaneous application of antegrade venous drainage is recommended.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.14-18
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• 2008

Purpose: Evaluation of results of free flap as a method of reconstruction in soft tissue defect after wide excision of soft tissue tumor of extremity. Materials and Methods: From 2000 through 2007, 11 patients received free flap surgery for soft tissue defect after wide excision operation for soft tissue tumor of limbs. Four cases were upper extremities and seven were lower extremities. Four subjects were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, three as malignant melanoma, two as synovial sarcoma and one as malignant fibrous histiocytoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma. Donor sites of free flap varied with anterolateral thigh flaps in six cases, latissimus dorsi flaps in four, reverse forearm flap in one. By the method of doppler ultrasound, venous circulation was evaluated for the survival of each flap on the third, fifth and seventh day respectively after the operation. Results: 10 of 11 free flaps were successfully survived. Necrosis of free flaps in 1 cases occurred in case of anterolateral thigh flap. Conclusion: Free flap can be a useful method for reconstruction of soft tissue defect after wide excision of soft tissue sarcoma of extremity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.84-87
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• 2019

With the recent development in microsurgery, the use of a perforator flap has been widely implemented. If the length of the ALT flap pedicle is insufficient despite adequate preoperative planning, pedicle length extension is necessary. We planned for a reverse ALT free flap using the distal vessel of the descending branch for pedicle length extension in the case of ALT perforator branch originating from the proximal portion of the descending branch. For the management of venous congestion, the distal venae comitantes were anastomosed to the proximal venous stump in an antegrade manner, successfully resolving the venous congestion. Modified reverse-flow ALT free flap, wherein the venae comitantes are anastomosed to the proximal vein stump, is a good option that allows for relatively simple pedicle extension within the same operative field when securing an adequate pedicle length is difficult because of the origin of the perforator from the proximal descending branch, unlike the initial surgical plan.

• 대한골관절종양학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.33-43
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• 2008

목적: 족관절 및 족부에 발생한 악성 연부 조직 종양의 광범위 절제술 후 시행한 재건술의 임상적 효용성에 대하여 알아보고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 2000년 3월에서 2007년 3월까지 족관절 및 족부에 악성 연부 조직 종양이 발생하여 광범위 절제술을 시행한 후 재건술을 시행한 15례(14명)을 대상으로 하였다. 폐 전이로 사망한 1례를 제외하고 평균 36.4개월(7~72개월)의 추시기간을 가졌고, 평균 연령은 56.8세(26~77세), 남자가 11명, 여자가 3명이었다. 원발병소는 악성 흑색종 12례, 편평상피 세포암 3례이었다. 최종 추시점에서 종양학적, 수술적 그리고 기능적인 결과를 비교하였다. 결과: 재건술의 방법은 전외측 대퇴부 천공지 피판 5례, 역행성 표재 비복동맥 피판 4례, 족배 동맥 피판 3례와 국소 피판 3례였다. 결손의 크기는 평균 $5.5{\times}5.7\;cm$, 피판의 크기는 평균 $5.9{\times}6.0\;cm$이었다. 회전 피판술 결손의 크기는 평균 $4.6{\times}4.7\;cm$, 피판의 크기는 평균 $4.9{\times}4.8\;cm$이었고 유리 피판술 결손의 크기는 평균 $7.2{\times}7.8\;cm$, 피판의 크기는 평균 $8.2{\times}8.8\;cm$이었다. 평균 수술 시간은 310분(120~540분)이었고, 회전 피판술은 256분, 유리 피판술은 420분이었다. 1례가 폐전이로 사망하였고 국소 재발한 4례와 원격 전이가 발견된 4례를 제외한 7례에서는 최종 추시상 병변이 발견되지 않았다. 피판의 국소적인 울혈외에 수술적 합병증은 없었고, 술 후 MSTS 점수는 평균 68.8%였다. 결론: 족관절 및 족부에 발생한 악성 연부 조직 종양의 광범위 절제술 후 결손의 크기가 비교적 작을 경우($5{\times}5\;cm$ 이하)인 경우 족배 동맥 피판술, 역행성 표재 비복 동맥 피판술과 같은 회전 피판술을 일차적으로 고려해 볼 수 있다. 결손이 더 크거나 복합 조직이 필요한 경우 전외측 대퇴부 천공지 피판술을 포함한 유리 피판술이 더 유용할 것으로 사료된다. 그리고 악성 흑색종의 경우 재건 방법은 종양학적인 결과에 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 보인다.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.605-610
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• 2009

Purpose: Substantial tissue necrosis after snake bites requiring coverage with flap surgery is extremely rare. In this article, we report 7 cases of soft tissue defects in the upper and the lower extremities caused by snake bites, which needed to be covered with flaps. Among the vast mass of publications on snake bites there has been no report that focuses on flap coverage of soft tissue defects due to snake bite sequelae. Methods: Seven cases of soft tissue defects with tendon, ligament, or bone exposure after snake bites were included. All patients were males without comorbidities, the average age was 35 years. All of them required coverage with a flap. In 6 cases, the defect was localized on the upper extremity, in one case the lesion was on the lower extremity. Local flaps were used in 6 cases, one case was covered with a free flap. The surgical procedures included one kite flap, one cross finger flap and digital nerve reconstruction with a sural nerve graft, one reverse proximal phalanx island flap, one groin flap, one adipofascial flap, one neurovascular island flap, and one anterolateral thigh free flap. The average interval from injury to flap surgery was 23.7 days. Results: All flaps survived without complication. All patients regained a good range of motion in the affected extremity. Donor site morbidities were not observed. The case with digital nerve reconstruction recovered a static two point discrimination of 7 mm. The patient with foot reconstruction can wear normal shoes without a debulking procedure. Conclusion: The majority of soft tissue affection after snake bites can be treated conservatively. Some severe cases, however, may require the coverage with flap surgery after radical debridement, especially, if there is exposure of tendon, bone or neurovascular structures. There is no doubt that definite coverage should be performed as soon as possible. But we also want to point out that this principle must not lead to a premature coverage. If the surgeon is not certain that the wound is free of necrotic tissue or remnants of venom, it is better to take enough time to get a proper wound before flap surgery in order to obtain a good functional and cosmetic result.