Objective: To summarize the anatomic characteristic of sigle pedicled double island free anterolateral thigh flaps and to evaluate its application and classification.
Methods: Between January 2010 and March 2013, 76 patients underwent free femoral anterolateral double island flap reconstruction of the defects in oral and maxillofacial region. Summarized the anatomic features of perforators, such as the number and origin of the perforators.
Results: According to the anatomic features and regularity of perforators, 76 cases of femoral anterolateral double island flaps were divided into 3 types: trunk type (type I), 15 cases (20%), in which the perforators of two flaps originated in descending branch and transverse branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery respectively; branch type (type II), 55 cases (72%), in which both the perforators originated in lateral femoral circumflex artery descending branch or lateral femoral circumflex artery transverse branch; bifurcation type (type III), 6 cases (8% ), in which two perforators originated in the two bifurcation of one perforator. Among the 76 cases, 75 survived and 1 showed partial necrosis.
Conclusions: According to the anatomic features and regularity of perforators, femoral anterolateral double island flaps can be divided into 3 types: trunk type (I type), branch type (II type), bifurcation type (III type).