LATERAL THIGH FLAP RECONSTRUCTION IN THE HEAD AND NECK

The lateral thigh free flap is a fasciocutaneous flap based on the cut aneous perforators of the deep femoral vessels, Although originally de scribed in 1983, it has had very few reports in the literature, This a rticle describes the flap and reports our findings and outcomes in nin e cadavers (18 thighs) and 33 clinical cases. The position of the vasc ular pedicle may vary in each case but has always been found to be pre sent. Successful transfer occurred in 30 of 33 cases. Flap loss was at tributable to infection, fistula, and hematoma in three of four cases. The flap was especially useful in large defects, most commonly total and base-of-tongue defects. We have found this flap to be reliable and to result in minimal morbidity.