Usefulness of vascular bundle interposition of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral vessels for free flap reconstruction of the calvarial defect.

Abstract

Usefulness of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral vessels as a vascular bundle interposition graft was introduced. Large calvarial defect with no recipient vessel for direct anastomosis was successfully covered with free flap nourished by the cervical vessels through the vascular bundle interposition graft of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and its venae comitantes. The vascular bundle interposition has remarkable advantages over the venous graft regarding its patency and durability, especially in the head and neck region in which grafted vessels is difficult to be set on the straight. The descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral vessels can be harvested up to 20 cm, and its diameter is suitable for interposition between conventional free flaps and recipient vessels in the head and neck region.