Gender Disparities and Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Anatomic Features of Anterolateral Thigh Flap (ALT) in Individuals with Diverse BMI: A Retrospective Clinical Study

Abstract

Background The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap plays a crucial role in reconstructive surgeries, providing versatile and reliable soft-tissue coverage. Flap thickness is a critical determinant of tissue volume and quality. Vascular factors, including the vascular diameter of the perforators and the length of the vascular pedicle, significantly influence flap viability and postrepair outcomes. To enhance preoperative assessment, this study integrated gender and body mass index (BMI) to analyze the anatomical characteristics of ALT flaps.

Methods This study used somatic penetrating ultrasonography to examine bilateral ALT flaps in patients. This study analyzed the relationship between gender and ALT flap thickness, vascular diameter of the perforators, and vascular pedicle length. Chi-square test was used to assess variations in age and gender. Multiple t-tests compared flap thickness, vascular diameter, and pedicle length between men and women in different BMI groups.

Results A total of 158 patients were included in this study from January 2018 to December 2022. In BMI < 24 and BMI ≥ 24.0 groups, males had lower ALT flap thickness than females (p < 0.0001 in each subgroup). Similarly, the vascular diameter of the perforators followed the same trend, with females having larger vascular diameters than males in BMI < 24 and BMI ≥ 24.0 groups. In terms of vascular pedicle length, males had longer pedicle length than females in both BMI < 24 and BMI ≥ 24.0 groups (p < 0.05 in each subgroup).

Conclusions Females demonstrate greater ALT flap thickness and larger vascular diameter of the perforators than males, whereas males have a longer length of the vascular pedicle.