Early Experience of Combined Anterolateral Thigh Flap and Ilioinguinal Flap in Patients with Severe Lower Extremity Trauma

Abstract

To introduce an experience of an anterolateral thigh flap combined with an ilioinguinal flap (ALT-SCIA) for treating severe skin trauma. Retrospective cohort data of 13 cases with complicated lower leg wounds admitted between June 2017 and October 2018 who underwent the ALT-SCIA were studied. The conjoined flap was designed according to the descending branch of the superficial circumflex iliac artery and the lateral circumflex femoral artery. The baseline data and operative details were collected from electronic medical records. These enrolled cases included eleven men and two women, aging from 24 to 55 years old. They underwent an average follow-up of 26.3 months. All flaps survived during the first stage and had good blood circulation, a plump appearance, soft texture, similar color to the receiving area, and no pigmentation. The eventual review presented those four cases acquired bone grafting treatments due to bone defect. The ALT-SCIA method provides adequate composite soft tissue coverage of large defects in the lower leg. Our study found that the flaps could provide abundant tissue and a relatively well-concealed donor area, and showed a relatively good clinical efficacy.