title: The anterior popliteal approach for popliteal exploration, distal femoral resection, and endoprosthetic reconstruction.
abstract: Distal femoral resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction are sometimes associated with flap necrosis and inadequate soft tissue coverage. We evaluated the anterior popliteal surgical approach, which was designed to reduce those complications by using a posteromedial myocutaneous flap based upon the vastus medialis. A retrospective analysis of 46 consecutive patients was performed, and results were compared with historical controls. Compared with 19.4% with wound complications and 22.7% with gastrocnemius flap transfers in previous series by the senior author, 7.8% of patients in the present study had minimal superficial flap necrosis, and no gastrocnemius transfers for soft tissue coverage were required. The median Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 26, and the local recurrence rate 2 years or more after resection of osteosarcoma was 4%. The anterior popliteal approach to the distal femur limited wound complications and provided good soft tissue coverage of the endoprostheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tamir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pritsch
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shehadeh
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bickels
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Malawer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D011152:Popliteal Vein; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps