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J Knee Surg 2019; 32(05): 463-467
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1653965
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Reconstruction of Knee Defects Using Pedicled Gastrocnemius Muscle Flap with Split-Thickness Skin Grafting: A Single Surgeon's Experience with 21 Patients

Ali Kilic
1   Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Brad Denney
1   Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
,
Jorge de la Torre
1   Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 February 2018

08 April 2018

Publication Date:
31 May 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Generally, reconstruction of knee defects with exposed bone, joint, tendon, and/or hardware requires a vascularized muscle flap for coverage. Although there are several surgical options for a knee defect reconstruction, the pedicled gastrocnemius muscle still remains the workhorse flap. Although this flap is commonly used for knee defect reconstruction and the technique is described very well, there is an absence of information in the literature detailing the technique of harvesting and insetting of the gastrocnemius flap step by step with illustrations. The purpose of this article is to describe in detail the technique to reconstruct defects of the knee with pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flap as well as to present demographics and surgical results of 21 patients who had knee reconstruction with a pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flap and split-thickness skin grafting.

Keywords

gastrocnemius flap - knee defects - periprosthetic infection
 

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