Premium
Functional evaluation of anterolateral thigh flap donor sites: Isokinetic torque comparisons for knee function
Author(s) -
Tsuji Naoko,
Suga Hirotaka,
Uda Koichi,
Sugawara Yasushi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.20487
Subject(s) - medicine , thigh , dissection (medical) , microsurgery , surgery , vastus lateralis muscle , knee joint , knee flexion , anatomy , skeletal muscle , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Background: The anterolateral thigh flap is thought to have minor donor site morbidity, but muscle dissection is unavoidable when skin perforator vessels run through the vastus lateralis muscle. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional problems associated with the anterolateral thigh flap donor site. Method: We evaluated 12 patients who underwent free anterolateral thigh flap transfer between March 2003 and November 2005. A questionnaire and dynamic functional evaluation of the knee joint using the Biodex System were performed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Results: No patients reported any disturbance in their daily life. No significant differences were found between donor and normal thighs on isokinetic power tests of the quadriceps muscle. Conclusion: The function of the donor site after harvesting the anterolateral thigh flap was maintained. Damage to or functional disturbance of the donor site is minimal even if muscle is injured when harvesting the flap. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.