The superolateral thigh flap: Cadaver and Computed Tomographic Angiography Studies with a Clinical Series

A two-part anatomical study computed tomographic angiography in living subjects and cadaver dissection was undertaken to evaluate the potential role of the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and its contribution, through direct branches, to the iliac crest and skin.

In nine of 20 dissections, a small branch of the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery was found to reach the iliac crest in the space defined by the rectus femoris, gluteal muscles, and tensor fasciae latae. After emergence of the tensor fasciae latae pedicle, the ascending branch coursed through an anatomical triangular space before entering the trochanteric skin as a direct terminal branch and running for a considerable distance in a posteroinferior direction in the subcutaneous fat. This pretrochanteric triangle was defined by the tensor fasciae latae, the trochanteric insertions of the vastus lateralis and gluteus medius muscles, and the greater trochanter.