Super-Thin ALT Harvest Technique

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap has emerged as the optimal and versatile choice for soft tissue transfer to address defects across various body regions. Its adaptability allows for the harvest of a fasciocutaneous flap, myocutaneous flap involving a portion of the vastus lateralis, adipofascial flap, or muscle flap including the tensor fascia lata, or as a sensate flap providing all essential reconstructive tissue components.

A notable challenge in ALT free flap procedures arises when dealing with thick soft tissue, particularly in obese patients, where it can exceed 5 cm in thickness. This thickness renders the conventional ALT flap unsuitable for facial soft tissue reconstruction. If attempted, subsequent debulking procedures are often required, yielding less than ideal results. Recent advancements have introduced thinner ALT flap harvest techniques that present new possibilities for flap utilization without the necessity for future debulking.

In this video, we demonstrate a modified harvest technique for the SuperThin ALT flap. Unlike some of the more intricate procedures described for SuperThin ALT, this technique offers a simpler and safer option for harvesting. It is designed to be accessible to any surgeon with experience in microsurgery.