Anterolateral Thigh Flap For Reconstruction Of Elderly Patients Arms And Legs Soft Tissue Defects

Objective：To investigate the anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of elderlypatients arms and legs soft tissue defects, furthermore the deep tissue was exposed, ormerge the clinical efficacy of wound infection.Methods：Anterolateral thigh flap graft for repair with traumatic soft tissue defects ofelderly patients23cases, furthermore the deep tissue was exposed, or consolidationinfected wounds; Including six cases of wound infection. Soft tissue defect site:forearm three cases, one cases of hand, leg four cases, ankle defects three cases, ninecases of the dorsum of the foot, heel two cases, bilateral plantar1cases,1case haveheel associated with medial and lateral malleolus defect.The areas of soft tissue defect:8cm×6cm to25cm×18cm.The flaps area of10cm×8cmto27cm×21cm. The emergency surgery repair two cases,the first step debridement orsecondary debridement, the second step flap transplantation21cases.Results：All flaps survived in22cases,1case flap tip necrosis. none vascular crisis,1case the flap tip necrosis after dressing skin graft healing. The postoperative follow-upof2to48months, with an average of23months. Flap color, texture, good shape. Sixcases of infected wounds use flap repaired,1case had partial infection under theflap, through secondary debridement and closed flush catheter wound healed. Theflap donor site was closed directly the three cases, the donor site skin graft repaired20cases, the wound healed well, no significant dysfunction.Conclusions：Anterolateral thigh flap artery pedicle constant location and enoughlength, large area,rich blood supply, better able resistance to infection, and can carryvastus lateralis muscle became muscle flap to obliterate the dead space, the operation can be completed in one supine surgical procedure, the elderly cardiopulmonary littleinterference, hidden for the district and so on merit,Is a ideal flap for repair elderlypatients with traumatic limbs large area of soft tissue defects and have deep tissueexposed.