Use of fascia component of the anterolateral thigh flap for different reconstructive purposes

The anterolateral thigh flap is commonly used for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects located at various sites of the body. This versatile flap offers many advantages to the reconstructive microsurgeons for the treatment of difficult defects. From 2000 to 2005, 70 anterolateral thigh flaps were transferred to reconstruct soft-tissue defects. We retrospectively reviewed these patients and found that the fascia lata component of the flap was used for different purposes in 19 patients. The fascia lata component of the flap was used for suspension of the flap in lip reconstruction in 12 patients, for reconstruction of dural defect in the scalp in 2 patients, for reconstruction of tendon defects in the forearm in 3 patients, and for reconstruction of fascia defect in the abdominal wall in the remaining 2. Complete loss of the flap was seen in an anterolateral thigh flap (5.2%) that was used for lower lip reconstruction. One flap necrosed partially (5.2%), and it was treated with surgical debridement and transposition of latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. The objective of this study is to focus on the reliability of the fascial component of the anterolateral thigh flap. Although many authors have described other advantages of the anterolateral thigh flap extensively, this peculiarity has not been stressed adequately. Anterolateral thigh flap offers a thick and vascular fascial component with large amounts that can be used for different reconstructive purposes, and it should be taken into consideration as an important advantage of the flap, together with other well-known advantages.