Three-Dimensional Vascular Anatomical Study of the Tensor Fasciae Latae Muscle and Perforators

To harvest any flap on the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) including tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle, a precise description of the vascular anatomy is required. There have been conflicting reports of the vascular supply of TFL and its overlying skin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomy of the TFL muscle according to the location, origin, type, caliber, and length of vessels that supply the muscle.

This study was performed on human cadavers (n = 16 thighs) that were injected with a mixture of lead oxide and gelatin through the femoral artery. Whole body computed tomography scans were performed. Three-dimensional images of the arterial anatomy were created using Materialise Interactive Medical Image Control Software (MIMICS). Anatomical dissection of all cadaver thighs was performed to visualize the arterial blood supply of the muscle and its regional perforators.

Sixteen thighs were included in the study. The main arterial supply of the TFL muscle was in all cases, the ascending branch of the LCFA (LCFA-asc) artery. The mean external diameter of the LCFA-asc artery was 2.7 mm ± 0.4 and the mean length was 3.6 cm ± 0.6. The distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to point where the vascular pedicle reaches the muscle ranged from 6.7 to 10.2 cm. The average number of cutaneous perforators was 10.9 ± 4. There were musculocutaneous perforators in all of our dissections (n = 16) and 14 of our specimens had septocutaneous perforators.

The main vascular supply to the TFL muscle is the ascending branch of the LCFA, which also gives rise to septocutaneous and musculocutaneous perforators. MIMICS provides excellent three-dimensional anatomical information about the vascular supply of the TFL.