title: Lateral Approach to the Popliteal Artery for Free Tissue Transfer to the Lower Extremity.
abstract: Free tissue transfer to the proximal leg and knee requires appropriate recipient vessel selection. The popliteal vessels have historically been unpopular choices, due to their remote location often necessitating vein grafts, and need for prone positioning. In this report, we describe a lateral approach to the above-knee popliteal vessels, which was utilized for 2 cases of free tissue transfer to the lower extremity. Neither prone positioning nor vein grafts were needed. The lateral approach to the above-knee popliteal vessels and their branches is a viable option for the otherwise recipient vessel-depleted lower extremity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC; School of Medicine, George Washington University, Wash., DC; and Division of Vascular Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC.
authors.forename: Jeremy C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sinkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC; School of Medicine, George Washington University, Wash., DC; and Division of Vascular Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC; School of Medicine, George Washington University, Wash., DC; and Division of Vascular Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC; School of Medicine, George Washington University, Wash., DC; and Division of Vascular Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Wash., DC.
authors.forename: Karen F Kim
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Evans