title: Reconstruction of combined defects of the Achilles tendon and the overlying soft tissue with a fascia lata graft and a free fasciocutaneous lateral arm flap.
abstract: A new approach to reconstruction of the Achilles tendon and overlying soft tissue is presented. A fascia lata graft is used to reconstruct the tendon and is enwrapped by the fascia that is included in a fasciocutaneous lateral arm flap. Five patients were treated with this technique; three of them after surgical Achilles tendon repair, rerupture, and consecutive infection, one after a full-thickness burn with loss of the tendon and one with a history of ochronosis and necrosis of the whole tendon and overlying soft tissue. There were no anastomotic complications and all flaps healed primarily. Functional evaluation with the Cybex II dynamometer was done at least 49 months after reconstruction. A good functional and cosmetic result was obtained in all patients and donor site morbidity was acceptable. These results are well within the results of other surgical treatment options reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Karl Franzens University Hospital, Graz, Austria. franz.haas@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Franz J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Seibert
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hubmer
authors.forename: Harald E T
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Moshammer
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pierer
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scharnagl
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012421:Rupture; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery