AN ANATOMICAL STUDY OF THE GLLUTEAL AND LUMBAR PERFORATOR-BASED FLAPS AND ITS APPLICATION

Abstract

A new era of perforator-based flaps has been introduced replacing the preceedingera of myocutaneous flaps. Perforator-based flaps include elevation of an area of the skin and subcutaneous tissue based on a single perforator. In the present work, we looked for gluteal and lumbar perforators studying their origin, number, size, location, course, skin distribution and the possibility of using a skin, subcutaneous tissue flap based on one gluteal or lumbar perforator. Twenty two cadaveric specimens were employed in our study. ~ I Sixteen preserved cadavers were used for the anatomical and radiographic -7 study while six fresh cadavers were used for fluorescein injection to stud •skin territories of the different arteries. We found that the gluteal perforators were present throughout the entire gluteal region especially the central and superolateral areas[and at /4.ey are sizable, interconnect with each other at the subcutaneous level and can be used as a perforator-based flap to treat ischeal and trochanteric pressure sores, to cover sacral defects and. as a free flap in breast reconstruction.