Designing the latissimus dorsi free flap for knee coverage.
Several techniques have been described for coverage of the exposed knee joint using local soft tissue and muscle. Occasionally, because of multiple previous procedures or the extent of the defect, local tissue is inadequate. In these situations the latissimus dorsi free flap is useful. The most acceptable recipient vessels comprise the superficial femoral system, but they are at a significant distance from the knee. This distance is bridged by designing the flap as a paddle with a narrow strip of proximal muscle in continuity with the thoracodorsal vessels. Placing the skin island eccentrically allows the muscle to be folded on itself and packed into the bony defect.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001415:Back; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000601:surgery*; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*