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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

An Experimental Human DIEP Flap Model to Investigate Preservation Strategies for Vascularized Composite Allografts and Free Flaps
Published on: December 5, 2025
Application of a new classification of chimeric anterolateral thigh free flaps
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China.
Background:
The anterolateral thigh free flap is one of the most commonly used flaps in reconstructive procedures. The purpose of this study was to assess this new classification of chimeric anterolateral thigh free flaps.
Methods:
Sixty-five patients underwent free anterolateral thigh chimeric free flap reconstruction of defects in the head and neck region. We summarized the anatomic features of perforators, including the number and origin of the perforators.
Results:
Sixty-five cases of femoral anterolateral double island flaps were divided into 3 types: trunk type (type I), 11 cases (16.9%), in which the perforators of two flaps originated in the descending branch and the transverse branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery; branch type (type II), 45 cases (69.3%), in which both the perforators originated in the descending branch or the transverse branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery; and bifurcation type (type III), 9 cases (13.8%), in which two perforators originated in the bifurcation of one perforator that originated in the descending branch or the transverse branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. All 65 flaps survived and none showed partial necrosis.
Conclusions:
The anterolateral thigh chimeric flap can be divided into 3 types: trunk type (I type), branch type (II type) and bifurcation type (III type).
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