title: Emergency knee joint salvage utilizing a free musculofasciocutaneous flap based on the anterior tibial artery: case report.
abstract: A young adult male presented with a traumatic amputation at the upper third of his left leg and an extensive soft tissue loss around his left knee. A free musculofasciocutaneous flap was elevated on the anterolateral part of the amputated segment and transferred to the soft tissue defect around the proximal left tibia in order to avoid an above-knee amputation. The entire flap depends on the anterior tibial artery for its blood supply. The anatomy of the flap is outlined. The importance of the musculocutaneous blood supply as well as the presence of an extensive fascial component make the flap very reliable. An 18-month follow-up period showed a uniformly well-contoured soft tissue coverage and an optimal functional result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Orthopedic Surgery, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Comtet
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saint Cast
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herzberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D013524:Surgical Flaps