Reconstruction of the skin defect of the knee using a reverse anterolateral thigh island flap: cases report.
A reverse anterolateral thigh island flap with the dimensions of 6 x 3, 15 x 6, and 26 x 8 cm, respectively, was elevated in 3 patients to repair the skin defects in the knee resulting from crush injuries. The pedicle of the flap was isolated in a retrograde fashion along the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery to obtain sufficient length until the pivot point was reached. The distal point of the defect to which the flap could reach for the reconstruction was 12 cm below the knee. All flaps survived, but skin necrosis occurred in the margins of those 2 large flaps. With a wide arc of rotation and sufficient skin paddle, the reverse anterolateral thigh island flap based on reverse flow is a good option for repairing skin defect around the knee; however, a staged or delayed operation might be considered in elevating a large flap.
Liu
Tsung-Yu
TY
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
Jeng
Seng-Feng
SF
Yang
Johnson Chia-Shen
JC
Shih
Hsiang-Shun
HS
Chen
Chien-Chung
CC
Hsieh
Ching-Hua
CH
D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult