The thigh as a model for free style free flaps

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Microsurgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Traditional free flap harvesting relies on predetermined donor sites.
• Anatomic variations or intraoperative challenges can complicate flap harvest.
• A flexible approach is needed for diverse reconstructive scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility and application of the "free style free flap" technique.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of retrograde dissection for flap harvest.
• To assess the utility of thigh-based free style free flaps in complex reconstructions.

Main Methods:

• Harvesting free style free flaps based on Doppler-identified vessels.
• Employing retrograde dissection to trace subfascial vessels to adequate length/size.
• Utilizing the thigh as a donor site for flap harvest.

Main Results:

• Nine free style free flaps were successfully harvested from the thigh.
• All harvested flaps were utilized for the reconstruction of complex defects.
• The retrograde dissection technique facilitated adequate vessel length and size.

Conclusions:

• The free style free flap technique, particularly using retrograde dissection, provides a versatile option for reconstructive surgery.
• The thigh is a suitable donor site for free style free flap harvest.
• This approach is valuable when standard flap plans are unfeasible due to anatomical variations or unexpected events.