The lateral thigh free flap: Anatomical dissection

The lateral thigh flap is a fasciocutaneous free flap, which was first presented in 1983 by Back. It was Hayden, however, in 1989, who demonstrated its advantages in head and neck reconstructions and spread its use. The flap draws its vascular support from a perforating artery of the profunda femoris, a collateral of the femoral artery. The system of perforating arteries of the profunda femoris supplies a large area of skin of the side of the thigh and for this reason a flap of considerable size can be prepared. Furthermore, sensation in the flap can be maintained if the lateral femoro-cutaneous nerve is preserved during the dissection. In head and neck field this flap can be used in reconstructions of extensive oropharyngeal, pharyngo-esophageal ablation and skin repairs of the cheek.