• Zhong-Fei Xu, Chang-Fu Sun, Wei-Yi Duan, En-Jiao Zhang, Wei Dai, Xiao-Jiao Zheng, Fa-Yu Liu, and Xue-Xin Tan.
• Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No. 117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, PR China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No. 117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, PR China. Electronic address: xzf7090@hotmail.com.
• Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2013 Dec 1; 51 (8): 725-30.

AbstractThe anteromedial thigh (AMT) perforator flap is usually thin, pliable, and nearly hairless, making it particularly suitable to repair defects of the head and neck. We studied the topography and outcomes of AMT perforator flaps in such defects after excision of tumours. We retrospectively reviewed the casenotes of 11 consecutive patients who had had reconstructions of the head and neck with the initial intent of using an AMT perforator flap from January 2010 to July 2011. For each patient we recorded the size and thickness of the flap; the length of the pedicle; and the number, external diameters, anatomical types, source vessels, and sites of the sizeable perforators. Of the 11 patients, 10 had successful reconstruction using AMT perforator flaps, but one had no AMT perforator big enough. The mean (range) number of sizeable perforators/flap was 1.3 (1-2), length of pedicle 10.6 (7-13) cm, and diameter of the artery 1.1(1.0-1.5) mm. Of the 13 sizeable perforators, 3 were direct and septocutaneous. The remaining ones were all musculocutaneous. Most of them were located in the middle third of the thigh. Primary closure of the donor site was achieved in all patients. One flap was successfully revised after compression of the perforator. All flaps survived with good functional and aesthetic outcomes. The free AMT perforator flap is suitable for reconstructions of the head and neck if a sizeable perforator can be found. The AMT flap may be used as a primary flap rather than as an alternative to the anterolateral thigh flap or a component of a chimeric flap. Copyright © 2011 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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