title: The versatility of the gastrocnemius muscle flap.
abstract: The gastrocnemius muscle rotation flap is a utilitarian procedure for management of soft-tissue defects about the knee. Ten patients underwent medial gastrocnemius muscle rotation flaps at our institution during a 24-month period. Four of the 10 patients underwent primary muscle rotation-plasty for reconstruction following tumor resection; 3 patients had soft-tissue defects following trauma; 2 patients had skin ischemia following total knee arthroplasty; and 1 patient had a soft-tissue defect from scar formation. All procedures were performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. At follow-up of 6 to 24 months, the soft-tissue coverage was maintained in all patients. All of the muscle rotation flaps survived. The gastrocnemius rotation flap provides reliable anterior knee soft-tissue coverage and can be performed by most orthopaedic surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hersh
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Schenck
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing