Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2005 Dec;18(4):255-262.

Pedicle and Skin Territory of the Vastus Lateralis Muscle for the Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap

• Shin CS
• Nam YS
• Han SH
• Paik DJ

Abstract

The pattern of location, perforator artery and skin territory of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery are very important to the anterolateral thigh free flap surgery. The author studied the pattern of vascularization of the anterolateral thigh in 110 Korean cadavers using macroscopic dissection and radiographic methods. The location of the points in this study were expressed as XY coordination in reference to the line between ASIS and center of the lateral margin of the patella. The location of pedicle of the vastus lateralis muscle at XY coordination valued X: 20.8+/-6.0 cm, Y: -1.2+/-1.0 cm. The length and external diameter of the pedicle were 91.7+/-54.9 mm, and 2.7+/-0.8 mm respectively. The average number of perforator artery to the vastus lateralis muscle were 3.2+/-1.5. The skin territory of the perforator of the vastus lateralis muscle was 6 x 18 cm2, its location was 20.8 cm on the line AB. The pattern of distribution and territories of the anterolateral thigh obtained in this study will provide useful anatomical backgrounds for the flap surgery of anterior and anterolateral thigh.

Keyword

Vastus lateralis muscle; Lateral circumflex femoral artery; Anterolateral thigh flap

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Cadaver
Femoral Artery
Free Tissue Flaps*
Patella
Quadriceps Muscle*
Skin*
Thigh*