Anatomy and clinical application of posterior calf fasciocutaneous flap / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the blood supply and the clinical application of the posterior calf fasciocutaneous flap for repairing the frontal defect of knee joint.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the article review and the anatomical study of the posterior calf in 8 cadavers (16 sides), 10 cases with frontal defects of knee joints were repaired with island fasciocutaneous flaps which had pedicles of lateral superficial sural artery and the lateral sural nerve.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The anatomical study showed there were three systems of superficial sural blood supply- medial, middle and lateral systems. They are originated from popliteal artery or from the bilateral sural artery. The lateral superficial sural artery was present in 100% of the cadavers. The flaps survived completely in 9 cases, except one case with partial necrosis at the one-fourth distal end of the flap. The patients were followed up for 6-12 months with good aesthetic and functional results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The posterior calf island fasciocutaneous flap has an reliable blood supply and protective sense nerve. The flap is ideal for the reconstruction of soft tissue defect around knee joint.</p>