Anterolateral thigh flap: Surgical anatomy, dissection technique and clinical applications

The anterolateral thigh flap, based on the perforators of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery, is an ideal soft tissue flap. From 2000 year, in Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona (Spain), this flap have become the workhorse in soft tissue reconstruction, it is very useful in head and neck reconstruction and lower limb reconstruction. Its versatility, long and large pedicle, and minimal donor site morbidity are the main advantages. In this paper we are going to review the surgical anatomy and, step by step, all the technique for safe harvesting and transfer.