# Medial Thigh Cutaneous Flap Irrigated by Perforating Vessels of the Secondary Pedicle of the Gracilis Muscle: Anatomical Study and Clinical Case Report

## TL;DR

This study identifies a reliable blood supply in the thigh that can be used for surgical flaps.

## Contribution

The study reveals a consistent secondary vascular pedicle in the thigh suitable for cutaneous flaps.

## Key findings

- All 33 thighs had a secondary vascular pedicle with consistent arterial and length measurements.
- 87.8% of cases showed the pedicle supplied both the gracilis muscle and overlying skin.
- The findings support the feasibility of using this flap for clinical applications.

## Abstract

To analyze the anatomy of the perforating vessels irrigating the skin of the medial aspect of the thigh and originating from the secondary vascular pedicle of the gracilis muscle.

We dissected 33 thighs from cadavers of both sexes to record and analyze the characteristics of the blood vessels irrigating the gracilis muscle in the middle third of the thigh.

All thighs (100%) had a secondary vascular pedicle in the intermuscular septum between the gracilis and vastus medialis/sartorius muscles, with branches irrigating the overlying skin on the medial aspect. The pedicle presented an arterial diameter ranging from 1.3 to 4.6 mm (mean: 2.3 mm) and a length ranging from 28 to 84 mm (mean: 50.6 mm). In 87.8% of the cases, the pedicle irrigated the gracilis muscle and presented vessels to the overlying skin.

Based on the data found, we conclude that it is feasible to obtain a reliable flap from the medial aspect of the middle third of the thigh.