The fascia lata is the thick investing deep fascia of the thigh, surrounding the thigh muscles as a complete sleeve. It is thickened laterally as the iliotibial band and sends medial, lateral and posterior intermuscular septa to the linea aspera of the femur, dividing the thigh into compartments. Superiorly it attaches to the iliac crest, inguinal ligament, pubis, ischial tuberosity and sacrotuberous ligament, and below it is continuous with the crural fascia of the leg. The saphenous opening in its anterior part transmits the great saphenous vein.
| Location | Deep fascia forming a complete sleeve around the muscles of the thigh |
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Encloses and compartmentalises the thigh muscles, helps venous return by resisting muscle expansion, and through the iliotibial tract transmits the pull of tensor fasciae latae and gluteus maximus to the lateral knee.
Fascia lata is harvested for surgical grafts: it is used for dural patching, orbital floor repair, abdominal wall repair, and fascial sling procedures for ptosis (frontalis suspension). The harvest site over the lateral thigh leaves a donor scar, occasional contour deformity or muscle herniation, and rarely a seroma. In fasciotomy for thigh compartment syndrome, the fascia lata is released longitudinally to decompress the anterior, posterior, and medial thigh compartments. The lateral thickening (ITB) is the site of iliotibial band syndrome (runner's knee), and its tightness is assessed with the Ober test.
Crush injury, prolonged limb compression, or vascular injury producing thigh compartment syndrome requires fasciotomy through the fascia lata to decompress all three thigh compartments through two incisions, with fascial release through the lateral fascia lata incision accessing anterior and posterior compartments.
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