Computed tomographic angiography versus handheld Doppler in perforator detection for anterolateral thigh flaps: a prospective randomized comparative study

Purpose: This study evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) versus handheld Doppler (HHD) in detecting perforators for anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap surgery.Methods: This study was conducted on 20 patients randomly assigned to two groups from April 2023 to November 2024: One group received CTA and HHD, while the other group received only HHD. Perforators were evaluated for their number, location, and source and compared with intraoperative findings.Results: The sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 86.0% and 98.0%, respectively, while those of HHD were 81.0% and 86.5%. CTA exhibited an accuracy of 92.0% for perforator identification, whereas that of HHD was 83.5%.Conclusion: CTA offers higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in identifying ALT flap perforators than HHD. Its superior imaging capabilities can enable improved surgical planning, minimizing intraoperative challenges, reducing the risk of complications, and potentially increasing flap survival rates. As such, CTA could be considered a valuable standard tool in preoperative planning for ALT flap surgery, particularly in cases where anatomical variation poses a challenge.