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Published on: June 8, 2013
Anterolateral thigh flap for trauma reconstruction
Johnson C Lee1, Hugo St-Hilaire, Michael R Christy
1Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|January 26, 2010
Summary
The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is a reliable option for reconstructing traumatic injuries, showing a 96% success rate in a large patient review. This versatile flap is suitable for various body regions, including extremities and head/neck.
Area of Science:
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Microsurgery
Background:
- High-velocity injuries often necessitate complex reconstructive techniques.
- Free muscle flaps have been the traditional method for covering such defects.
- The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap offers a potential alternative for reconstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and versatility of the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap.
- To assess its utility as a primary reconstructive choice for traumatic injuries.
- To analyze outcomes in a Western patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 122 patients undergoing 127 ALT flap reconstructions.
- Data collected included defect characteristics, flap details, surgical parameters, and complications.
- Analysis of flap success rates and anatomical distribution of reconstructions.
Main Results:
- The ALT flap was successfully used in 96% of reconstructions (122/127).
- Lower extremity reconstruction was most common (74%), followed by head/neck (12%) and upper extremity (11%).
- Flap failures included 3 total and 2 partial failures, with an average follow-up of 9.3 months.
Conclusions:
- The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is a reliable and versatile option for reconstructing composite traumatic injuries.
- Its high success rate supports its use as a primary choice in trauma reconstruction.
- The flap demonstrates broad applicability across various anatomical locations.
