The pedicled Antero lateral thigh flap for gender affirming surgery: what is different? First case series outcomes of a single center from Turkey.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to share our preliminary outcomes of the pedicled Antero Lateral Thigh flap (ALTf) phalloplasty technique, which we presume to be the first reported case series of a single center from Turkey. A cross-sectional study, comprising all cases who underwent pedicled ALTf phalloplasty in our clinic, between January 2015 and December 2019, was designed. Demographic data, case characteristics and surgical details including complications were recorded. The mean age of our 26 cases was 30 (28-34) years. The mean penile length and diameter were 15.07 ± 0.98 cm and 3.9 ± 0.34 cm, respectively. Tactile sensation was evaluated by touching the radix, corpus and tip of the neo-phallus showing response in 17 (65.4%), 7 (26.9%) and 2 (7.7%) of the cases, respectively. In 14 (53.8%) of all our cases no complication was reported at all. However, in 12 (46.1%) cases, although no intraoperative complication occurred; postoperative complications were observed as Clavien-2 (3.8%), Clavien-3a (3.8%) and Clavien-3b (71%). Postoperative satisfaction rates were found 77.14% (38-94). Although relevant studies are limited, in addition to low complication rates and high satisfactory outcomes, by leading to a concealable donor site, the pedicled ALTf can be used as a preferred phalloplasty technique, especially in transmen with religious or cultural sensibility.