ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>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.</p>