Reversed anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap for knee and proximal calf defects.
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.
Wang
Xian-Cheng
XC
Division of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Second XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. wangxiancheng64@hotmail.com
Lu
Qin
Q
Li
Xiao-Fang
XF
Burd
Andrew
A
Zhao
Bai-Cheng
BC
Wang
Yu-Ying
YY
He
Ji-Yong
JY
Liu
Xiao-Ping
XP
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