Calcaneal fillet flap: a new osteocutaneous free tissue transfer for emergency salvage of traumatic below-knee amputation stumps.

Januszkiewicz, J S; Mehrotra, O N; Brown, G E · Plast Reconstr Surg · 1996

case_report · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Traumatic below-knee amputations do not always leave enough soft tissue of bone with which to fashion a stump of sufficient length and durability to support a prosthesis. Composite free flaps can often be harvested from the amputated limb to provide immediate one-stage stump salvage and to preserve knee function. We report a new technique to increase stump length by incorporating the calcaneus into a foot fillet flap as a vascularized bone transfer. The calcaneal fillet flap is a useful addition to the inventory of available composite flaps. It is recommended for knee joint salvage when there is less than 11 cm of tibial remnant length.

Medical subject headings

Anatomy