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The composite anterolateral thigh flap for knee extensor and skin reconstruction

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The simultaneous reconstruction of a skin defect and lost extensor mechanism of the knee joint is difficult. We present a 31-year-old male who lost the patella and had a 9 × 10 cm skin defect after a total patellectomy for an infected open patellar fracture. A composite anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap including vascularized skin and fascia lata (FL) was elevated. The FL was folded and sutured to the remaining patellar tendon. The skin flap covered the skin defect. The wound healed uneventfully. Thirty months later, the active range of motion of the knee joint was 0°–120° and the extension strength of the knee joint was normal. He could stand on his right leg and walk without assistance. The composite ALT flap is a valuable option in knee reconstruction after a total patellectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, 640 Daesa-dong, Daejeon, Jung-gu, 301-721, South Korea

    Seung Han Song, Sangmun Choi & Sang-Ha Oh

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea

    Young-Mo Kim

  3. Department of Research Institute for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea

    Young-Mo Kim & Sang-Ha Oh

  4. PLUS Aesthetic Clinic, Daejeon, South Korea

    Seung Ryul Lee

  5. Clinical Anatomy Institute, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea

    Sang-Ha Oh

  6. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sanggye Piak Hospital, School of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, South Korea

    Young Woong Choi

Authors
  1. Seung Han Song
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  2. Sangmun Choi
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  3. Young-Mo Kim
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  4. Seung Ryul Lee
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  5. Young Woong Choi
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  6. Sang-Ha Oh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sang-Ha Oh.

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Song, S.H., Choi, S., Kim, YM. et al. The composite anterolateral thigh flap for knee extensor and skin reconstruction. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 133, 1517–1520 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1833-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1833-3

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