title: Vastus medialis muscle flap and hemi V-Y skin flap for knee extensor and soft tissue reconstruction.
abstract: Simultaneous reconstruction of extensor mechanism and skin defect of the knee joint is a difficult problem. We present a case of a 55-year-old man with loss of patella and 9 x 6 cm skin defect after total patellectomy for infected open patellar fracture. Vastus medialis muscle flap and hemi V-Y skin flap were elevated. Vastus medialis muscle flap was advanced and sutured to the remaining patellar tendon. Hemi V-Y skin flap covered the skin defect. The wound healed uneventfully. After a follow-up period of 30 months, active range of motion of the knee joint is 0-120 degrees, and extension strength of the knee joint is [4] in a manual muscle test. He can stand on his right leg without any assistance. The combination of vastus medialis flap and hemi V-Y skin flap is a valuable option in knee reconstruction after total patellectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan. kubota-cbu@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubo
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps