Limitations of the Vastus Lateralis Muscle as a Substitute for Lost Abductor Muscle Function: An Anatomical Study
Section snippets
Materials and Methods
Twelve cadaveric hemipelvises with legs from eight specimens (four paired and four unpaired) were investigated using macrodissection techniques. All limbs were embalmed in a formalin-based solution. No cadaver showed evidence of previous trauma or surgery at the femur or hip joint. The thighs were examined according to a standardized dissection protocol. Each lower limb was placed supine on the dissection table and the hip joint was approached anteriorly.
The ascending branch of the lateral
Results
In all cases, the VL was innervated in a two-fold manner: from the proximal and the distal aspect. The shortest proximal branches, which were two to four in number, had a mean length of 36 mm (range: 19–50 mm). The muscle branches to the VL and to the VI were interwoven with vessels of the ascending and transverse branches of the LCFA. The short muscle branches to the VL coursed at a mean angle of 50 degrees (range: 30–70 degrees) in an anteroposterior direction and at a mean angle of 48
Discussion
The VL flap has attracted significant interest in recent times. Initially it was used as a musculocutaneous transplant to cover regional defects in the hip, thigh and knee 7., 8., 9., 10., 11., later as a free flap for reconstruction of head and neck defects 3., 12., 13.. One of the features of the VL that renders it suitable for this purpose is its long and high-caliber vascular pedicle with little anatomical variation [1]. Donor site morbidity is reportedly low and no functional impairment
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One or more of the authors of this paper have disclosed potential or pertinent conflicts of interest, which may include receipt of payment, either direct or indirect, institutional support, or association with an entity in the biomedical field which may be perceived to have potential conflict of interest with this work. For full disclosure statements refer to http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2015.06.047.