The skin flap in the groin area is a vascularized skin flap which comes from your groin area and is also based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery.
The size of the groin flap is around 30 cm in length and 10 cm in width although the size of a groin flap can vary.
The average size of a free groin flap is 19 cm by 12 cm, with the smallest groin flap being 8 cm by 6 cm in size and the largest groin flap being around 27 cm by 17 cm.
The different types of groin flaps are.
Conjointed latissimus dorsi-groin flaps which comes in 4 different types which include.
Type I: Pedicled latissimus dorsi and free groin flap.
Type II: Free latissimus dorsi and pedicled groin flap.
Type III: Both pedicled flaps.
Type IV: Both free flaps.
McGregor flap.
The McGregor flap also known as the pedicled groin flap, this flap is used to reconstruct large tissue defects of the hand, wrist, and forearm.
It's a versatile flap which can be performed by less-experienced surgeons.
Tensor fascia lata, anterolateral thigh, and vertical rectus abdominis flap which are the most common flaps used for groin reconstruction.
They provide good soft tissue coverage, but they sacrifice a functioning muscle.
Island flap: Transferred under a tunnel.
Tubed pedicle flap: Transferred as a delay flap, requiring separation after 2–3 weeks.
The difference between a groin flap and a SCIP flap is an SCIP flap is a more refined version of the groin flap that only uses a single perforator branch from the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap.
A groin flap is a traditional surgical flap which utilizes the entire superficial circumflex iliac artery as it's blood supply.
The axis of the groin flap is a finger breadth below the inguinal ligament and a line drawn from the point where the superficial circumflex iliac artery originates to the anterior superior iliac spine.
The superficial circumflex iliac artery is the axial vessel which supplies the flap and it runs along your inguinal ligament, usually around 2 cm below it's margin.
A groin flap is the vascularized flap of tissue from your groin area which is used to cover soft tissue defects.
A groin flap is based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery, which is a branch of your femoral artery which provides a blood supply that is relatively constant to a large area of your groin.
This relatively constant blood supply to a large area of the groin allows for a substantial amount of tissue to be used.
Reconstructive surgeons commonly use groin flaps to cover soft tissue defects on the hand and also the distal two thirds of the forearm.
Groin flaps can also be used to treat complex soft tissue injuries of the neck and head.
There are also severe different variations of the groin flap technique which includes a sensitive variant, tubular design and flat tissue coverage.
The donor site of a groin flap can also usually be primarily closed.
The complications of groin flap include.
Undermining the wound edges in the abdomen and thigh to enable a direct skin closure can result in a loss of sensation in this region.
Also a loss of feeling in the upper lateral thigh caused by transsection of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve during dissec- tion of the groin flap is possible.
Skin grafts, in contrast to flaps, are completely removed from their blood supply, whereas flaps remain attached to a blood supply via a pedicle.
Skin grafts are less technically difficult but can be more time consuming as the procedure creates a second surgical site.
The two indications for the conjoined LD–groin flap are the need for extensive and long soft-tissue coverage or for reconstructing bone defects, restoring lymphatic system, and providing functional muscle transfer in one single flap.