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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
Reconstruction of multiple long digital and hand defects using the multilobed anterolateral thigh perforator flap
Haiping Di1, Thomas Yu Xia2, Chao Ma1
1Department of Burn, The First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
Objective:
This study investigated the reconstruction of multiple long digital and hand defects using the multilobed anterolateral thigh perforator flap.
Methods:
From January 2018 to January 2021, 14 patients (hands) with multiple long digital defects were treated using the multilobed anterolateral thigh perforator flap. The mean age of the patients was 35 years (range, 18-55 years). The mean size (length × width) of the defects was 12.3 × 10.6 cm (range, 9 × 7 cm-16 × 12 cm). The mean size of the flap was 13.7 × 12.1 cm (range, 11 × 8 cm-19 × 14 cm). The total active motion was compared to the opposite side (100% normal, excellent; 75%-99% normal, good; 50%-74% normal, fair; <50% normal, poor).
Results:
In this series, 12 flaps survived completely. Partial flap necrosis occurred in 2 patients but healed with wound care. The mean follow-up period was 28 months (range, 25-34 months). Based on the total active motion scoring system, we got 1 excellent, 7 good, 7 fair, and 1 poor result. A second surgery to separate the digits was not required.
Conclusion:
Multiple digital and hand defects can be reconstructed simultaneously using the multilobed anterolateral thigh perforator flap, allowing a length-to-width ratio of greater than 1.5:1 to resurface long digital defects.
Level Of Evidence:
Level IV, Therapeutic Study.
