Deep femoral artery perforator flap: a new perforator flap for breast reconstruction.

Overview

We present the deep femoral artery perforator (DFAP) flap, a new perforator flap for breast reconstruction, with a detailed description of operative technique and four clinical examples. The DFAP flap allows harvest of tissue from the lower buttock and lateral thigh with similar territory to an in-the-crease inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) flap but based on a different perforator. When present, the DFAP is the largest vessel supplying this territory and is often septocutaneous, facilitating dissection when compared with the IGAP flap. We used preoperative imaging with magnetic resonance angiography to assist in accurate flap planning which also permitted precise determination of perforator origin. In patients with either a contraindication to abdominal wall-based perforator flaps or weight distribution below the waist, the DFAP flap provides an alternative to the IGAP flap with an excellent pedicle and a favorable location on the lateral thigh.