Functional reconstruction of total defects of the dorsiflexor muscles with a chimeric anterolateral thigh free flap: a case report

Abstract

Although several studies exist on the simple volume filling of soft tissue defects in lower extremity reconstruction, few reports have described functional reconstruction. In this study, a 52-year-old male patient, after a forklift accident, developed soft tissue defects of the all the right dorsiflexors. The patient underwent surgery with a chimeric anterolateral thigh free flap (cALT-FF), in which 18×8 cm2 fasciocutaneous flaps were harvested, including a 6×9 cm2 vastus lateralis muscle flap in a chimeric pattern. The functionality of the lower extremities was evaluated in terms of the active ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion and the Stanmore system after 15 months, and the result was good. In this study, we focused on functional reconstruction following the use of cALT-FF in a patient with defects of all the dorsiflexor muscles, which play an important functional role in gait.