[Reversed anterolateral thigh island flap and myocutaneous flap transplantation]

The blood supply of free anterolateral thigh flap and myocutaneous flap comes from the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. On the basis of anatomical data, the descending branch coincides with the lateral superior genicular artery. Therefore, the authors suggested reversed anterolateral thigh island flap and myocutaneous flap transplantation. The blood supply of the reversed island flap, is from the lateral superior genicular artery. The flap seemed to have a constant vascular anatomy with a long pedicle and a large diameter, so that dissection of the flap can be accomplished easily. Moreover, donor defects were usually closed primarily without the need of skin-grafting. Since 1985, 4 cases of soft tissue defect around the knee joint have been repaired with reversed anterolateral thigh island flap and myocutaneous flap. All flaps survived completely and obtained satisfactory results. In this paper, the anatomy, design and operative technique of the flap are discussed.