title: [Three-dimensional reconstruction technique in gastrocnemius flap surgery: initial clinical application].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the experience with three-dimensional reconstruction technique in initial clinical application in gastrocnemius muscle flap surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007 to 2008, 7 patients received gastrocnemius muscle flap surgeries to repair the wounds. Preoperative CT angiography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed after injection of the contrast media for individualized three-dimensional gastrocnemius muscle flap reconstruction using Amira4.1 software. According to the size of the defect in the wound, individualized three-dimensional gastrocnemius muscle flap was designed and harvested from the posterior leg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individualized three-dimensional reconstruction of the gastrocnemius flap was performed in 7 cases, and the reconstructed flaps clearly displayed the blood vessels, skin and the adjacent three-dimensional structures. In 6 cases the main perforating branched and trunk of the blood vessels in the designed flap were consistent with the surgical findings; in 1 case, the perforating branches failed to be clearly displayed in the designed flap, and surgical examination identified perforating branches with an average diameter of 0.5 mm (minimally 0.3 mm). The flaps survived in all the 7 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional reconstruction of the gastrocnemius flap based on the lower limb CT angiography or MRI allows three-dimensional observation of the anatomy of the flap and accurate marking of the extent of the flap to be harvested, therefore avoiding intraoperative injuries to the blood vessels to better survival of the flaps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Jian-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Gao-hong
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Kuan-hai
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yuan-zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guo-xian
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed