title: Coverage of knee-tumor-resection prostheses with free flaps.
abstract: Free latissimus dorsi free flaps were used for the treatment of three patients with malignant tumors localized at the distal end of the femur. In all cases, a knee prosthesis was used after tumor resection. In two patients, the prosthesis was covered with a free latissimus dorsi flap immediately after insertion. In one patient, the exposed prosthesis that was inserted 9 months previously was also covered with a free latissimus dorsi flap. Histopathologic diagnosis of the tumors was osteosarcoma in two cases and fusiform cell sarcoma in one case. Free-tissue transfers were successful in spite of preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was started 3 weeks postoperatively in all cases. Patients ambulated 6 weeks after surgery and knee functions were satisfactory during a 1 year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Senyuva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aydingöz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiz
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Güzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*