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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Orthop. Nov 18, 2014; 5(5): 603-613
Published online Nov 18, 2014. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v5.i5.603
Published online Nov 18, 2014. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v5.i5.603
Flap reconstruction of the knee: A review of current concepts and a proposed algorithm
Andreas Gravvanis, Antonios Kyriakopoulos, Dimosthenis Tsoutsos, Department of Plastic Surgery-Microsurgery and Burn Center, General State Hospital of Athens “G Gennimatas”, 15343 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Kateros, Orthopedic Surgery Department, General State Hospital of Athens “G Gennimatas”, 15343 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Gravvanis A designed the study and wrote the manuscript; Gravvanis A and Kateros K performed the majority of clinical cases; Kyriakopoulos A and Tsoutsos D contributed to the collection and critical review of the pertinent literature.
Correspondence to: Andreas Gravvanis, MD, PhD, FEBOPRAS, Department of Plastic Surgery-Microsurgery and Burn Center, General State Hospital of Athens “G Gennimatas”, Patroklou 10, Agia Paraskevi, 15343 Athens, Greece. gravvani@yahoo.com
Telephone: +30-69-44455575 Fax: +30-21-07709851
Received: January 4, 2014
Revised: July 2, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: November 18, 2014
Processing time: 228 Days and 3.9 Hours
Revised: July 2, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: November 18, 2014
Processing time: 228 Days and 3.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: There is much controversy in the literature regarding the optimal management of skin necrosis around the knee. Muscle coverage remains the standard to which all other flaps should be compared. Perforator flaps have recently represented a true revolution in the soft tissue reconstruction around the knee, with peculiar advantages due to their low donor morbidity and long pedicles. In the case of free flap the choice of recipient vessels is the key point to the reconstruction. With meticulous preoperative planning, by identifying the reconstructive needs and by understanding the reconstructive algorithm, the surgeon should be able to manage knee defects with high success rate.