TY - JOUR
T1 - Free anterolateral thigh flap in pediatric patients
AU - Gharb, Bahar Bassiri
AU - Salgado, Christopher J.
AU - Moran, Steven L.
AU - Rampazzo, Antonio
AU - Mardini, Samir
AU - Gosain, Arun K.
AU - Spanio Di Spilimbergo, Stefano
AU - Chen, Hung Chi
PY - 2011/2
Y1 - 2011/2
N2 - The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap represents a workhorse flap in reconstructive surgery. We describe our clinical experience with this flap in the pediatric population. A total of 20 patients with an average age of 9.5 years underwent a free ALT flap reconstruction. All flaps were commonly raised on 2 perforators. About 5 flaps were employed for head and neck reconstruction, 7 for upper and 8 for lower limb reconstruction. Traumatic defects and congenital malformations represented the predominant etiology. Sizable perforators were found in all patients. The caliber was smaller compared to adults, and the course of the perforator was shorter. There were no complete flap losses and no significant donor-site morbidity. Donor-site closure required closure with split-thickness skin grafts in 6 cases. Hypertrophic scars developed in 4 patients. Secondary procedures included flap debulking (5) and Z-plasties (2). In conclusion, children have well-developed perforators supplying the ALT flap. With proper technique, this flap can be harvested and employed safely and reliably for reconstruction of varied defects in children.
AB - The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap represents a workhorse flap in reconstructive surgery. We describe our clinical experience with this flap in the pediatric population. A total of 20 patients with an average age of 9.5 years underwent a free ALT flap reconstruction. All flaps were commonly raised on 2 perforators. About 5 flaps were employed for head and neck reconstruction, 7 for upper and 8 for lower limb reconstruction. Traumatic defects and congenital malformations represented the predominant etiology. Sizable perforators were found in all patients. The caliber was smaller compared to adults, and the course of the perforator was shorter. There were no complete flap losses and no significant donor-site morbidity. Donor-site closure required closure with split-thickness skin grafts in 6 cases. Hypertrophic scars developed in 4 patients. Secondary procedures included flap debulking (5) and Z-plasties (2). In conclusion, children have well-developed perforators supplying the ALT flap. With proper technique, this flap can be harvested and employed safely and reliably for reconstruction of varied defects in children.
KW - Anterolateral thigh flap
KW - free flap
KW - pediatric
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78751701472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78751701472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181e35e38
DO - 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181e35e38
M3 - Article
C2 - 21178758
AN - SCOPUS:78751701472
SN - 0148-7043
VL - 66
SP - 143
EP - 147
JO - Annals of plastic surgery
JF - Annals of plastic surgery
IS - 2
ER -