title: Reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap for knee and proximal calf defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reconstruction of defects involving the knee and proximal one third of the lower leg presents a challenging problem in plastic surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap for covering such defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2006 and May 2007, one man and four women with defects around the knee and upper calf underwent reconstruction with reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flaps. The patients' average age was 45 years (25-72 years). The size of the transferred flap ranged from 6 cm x 8 cm to 12 cm x 13 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four flaps with overlying skin grafts healed uneventfully; one skin graft showed minor necrosis due to haematoma, but the adipofascial flap survived well. Postoperatively the appearance of the reconstructive flap was acceptable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap is an effective option for covering defects of the knee and proximal calf.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Second XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. wangxiancheng64@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xian-Cheng
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burd
authors.forename: Bai-Cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yu-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013848:Thigh / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology