Clinical application of anterolateral femoral skin flap pedicled with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery

Objective To report the clinical effect of free transplanting for soft tissue defects pedieled with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch of lateral cirumflex femoral artery.Methods Cu- taneous branches of the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery were found small or abscent in 7 patients.The anterolateral femoral skin flap was pedicled with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch to repair the soft tissue defects of the arm,hand,leg and foot,rather than with the descending ones. The size of the flap ranged from 15 cm×6 cm to 28 cm×13 cm,with part muscle valve,iliotibal tract and lat- eral femoral cutaneous nerve.The fractures were performed with internal or external fixation.Results All of the anterolateral femoral skin flap survived well postoperatively in the 7 cases and had good appearance and sensation at one stage.The function of the repaired extremities recovered well.Conclusion The anterolat- eral femoral skin flap pedicled with high site cutaneous branches of the transuvrse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery has many advantages of good blood supply and large size.The flap was secluding,and can be taken with some muscle and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.When cutaneous branches of the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery is small or abscent,the anterolateral femoral skin flap with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery is an optimal alternative.