Summary
The thigh is a rich source of tissue for free flap harvest. The anterolateral thigh
and gracilis flaps are most commonly used. The sartorius flap is an easily harvested
flap that can be raised with the leg in the anatomically extended position without
rotation. The cutaneous landmarks are readily identified and so the relevant perforators
can be quickly found. Pedicle dissection is quick and easy, allowing the flap to be
raised in a short time. We report our experience of using this flap both as a free
muscle-only flap and as a free fasciocutaneous perforator flap for soft-tissue reconstruction
in the lower limb. An anatomical study was also carried out to examine the vascular
anatomy of the sartorius muscle flap and the cutaneous perforator flap. Twenty limbs
from soft fixed adult cadavers were dissected and the position, length, diameter and
cutaneous extension of all segmental pedicles, from the anterior superior iliac spine
(ASIS) to the medial femoral condyle, were measured. Fourteen out of 20 (70%) sartorius
muscles had at least one musculocutaneous perforator and, of these muscles, 13 (93%)
had at least one musculocutaneous perforator that was found at 20±3 cm from the ASIS. The free sartorius flap is a useful addition to flap choice from
the thigh and carries a predictable cutaneous perforator in the majority of cases,
allowing a fasciocutaneous perforator flap to be quickly and reliably raised with
minimal donor-site morbidity.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 06, 2012
Accepted:
June 10,
2012
Received:
March 23,
2012
Footnotes
☆Presented at the 9th Plastic Surgery Update, Val d'Isère, France, February 2012.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
