Free flow-through anterolateral thigh flap for complex knee defect including the popliteal artery.
Reconstruction of complex knee defects including the popliteal artery presents a challenging problem in reconstructive microsurgery. Reconstruction of the popliteal artery and soft-tissue coverage should be performed simultaneously for limb salvage. We present the one-stage reconstruction of a complex knee defect including the popliteal artery using a free flow-through anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap as a bypass flap in two patients with sarcomas. In both patients, the popliteal artery and vein were reconstructed using branches of the lateral circumflex femoral arterial system. The flaps survived without vascular compromise and the limbs were preserved successfully. Free flow-through ALT flap enables simultaneous leg revascularization and soft-tissue coverage with a single free flap. The lateral circumflex femoral arterial system has many branches with large diameters, making it suitable for reconstruction of multiple infrapopliteal arteries.
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Shimpei
S
Miyamoto
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Masahide
M
Fujiki
Division of Orthopedic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Fumihiko
F
Nakatani
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Masanobu
M
Sakisaka
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
Minoru
M
Sakuraba
D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005360:Fibula / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013848:Thigh / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery