Clinical outcomes of reconstruction on tissue defects with thin anterolateral thigh flap versus commonly used free soft flaps: A meta-analysis

Background: The thin anterolateral thigh flap (tALTF) is gaining attention in reconstructive surgery due to its aesthetic and functional advantages. However, its clinical safety and outcomes compared to other commonly used free soft flaps (CUFSFs) remain unclear.

Methods: Studies were systematically searched from PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database up to November 2, 2024. Flap failure, donor and recipient site morbidity, secondary salvage surgery, and patient satisfaction were evaluated.

Results: A total of 416 cases from 7 studies were included in our analysis. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in flap failure and secondary salvage surgery. However, tALTF showed significant advantages over CUFSFs in skin grafting, donor and recipient site morbidity, and patient satisfaction.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis highlights the clinical safety and superior outcomes of tALTF compared to CUFSFs in reconstructive surgery, suggesting its viability as a preferred option for surgeons. However, the retrospective design of the included studies and limited sample sizes necessitate further large-scale prospective studies to validate these results.