title: [Clinical application of the distal island muscle flap of the gastrocnemius muscle for repairing the defects around knee and within the upper 2/3 of lower leg].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize clinical application of the distal island muscle flap of the gastrocnemius muscle for repairing the defects around knee and within the upper 2/3 of lower leg.
  
  
  METHODS
  18 patients with defects around knee and within the upper 2/3 of lower leg, were treated with the distal island muscle flap of the gastrocnemius muscle, including 12 cases with medial muscle head and 6 cases with lateral muscle head. The muscular flaps were covered with meshed split-thickness skin grafts. The wound at donor sites were closed directly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the skin grafts and muscle flaps survived with superior infection at the wound edge in two cases. The patients were followed up for 8 months to 4.8 years with satisfactory cosmetic and functional results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distal island muscle flap of the gastrocnemius muscle has a reliable blood supply, long pedicle and suitable thickness. It is an ideal method for repairing the defects around knee and within the upper 2/3 of lower leg.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital, Lanzhou Command, PLA, Lanzhou 730050, China.
authors.forename: Gong-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tie-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Lai-Xu
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yong-Heng
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Jun-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult