Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Using Pedicled Antero Lateral Thigh Flap

BACKGROUND: Reconstructing abdominal wall defects has been a difficult task for surgeons. The abdominal wall defects range from defects of only soft tissue to full thickness defects including all the three layers of the abdomen. Only soft tissue defects are commonly caused by peritonitis and laparotomies, and full thickness defects can occur from en bloc resection of tumours as well as trauma. Treatment options available include component separation, partition technique, flap coverage, and more recently acellular dermal matrix. METHODS: This retrospective study done between 2016 and 2020 where 20 patients were operated for abdominal wall defect using Pedicled ALT flap in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. RESULTS: The study consisted of total 20 patients, 14 males and 6 females. Eight patients were post electric burn, 5 patients had suffered trauma, 4 patients underwent resection of abdominal wall tumour and 3 patients were post laparotomy for peritonitis. Mean age of patients was 48 years (range from 36 to 62 years). Mean fascia defect size was 14.2 cm (range 12.2 to 16.4 cm). Mean operative time was 170 minutes (range from 140 minutes to 220 minutes). Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 8 days to 24 days (mean- 12 days). CONCLUSION: Pedicled ALT flap has expanded the armamentarium of plastic surgeons for reconstruction of abdominal wall defects.