TY - JOUR
T1 - The "extended pedicle" gastrocnemius free muscle flap
AU - Merten, S. L.
AU - Rome, Philip D.
AU - Stern, H. S.
AU - Pennington, D. G.
PY - 2003/7
Y1 - 2003/7
N2 - The free gastrocnemius muscle flap is, in many ways, an excellent choice for reconstruction requiring free muscle transfer. Each head is a large, broad muscle, usually with a single dominant artery and vein of reasonable diameter, and the donor site is acceptable both cosmetically and functionally. However, the short vascular pedicle limits its application as a first-choice free muscle flap. We have described our experience with pedicle lengthening by intramuscular dissection, which resulted in a final length of up to 10 cm and greatly increased the applicability of the flap. We presented two clinical cases demonstrating the use of the flap and discussed its benefits and shortcomings.
AB - The free gastrocnemius muscle flap is, in many ways, an excellent choice for reconstruction requiring free muscle transfer. Each head is a large, broad muscle, usually with a single dominant artery and vein of reasonable diameter, and the donor site is acceptable both cosmetically and functionally. However, the short vascular pedicle limits its application as a first-choice free muscle flap. We have described our experience with pedicle lengthening by intramuscular dissection, which resulted in a final length of up to 10 cm and greatly increased the applicability of the flap. We presented two clinical cases demonstrating the use of the flap and discussed its benefits and shortcomings.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038110826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/01.PRS.0000066366.53269.21
DO - 10.1097/01.PRS.0000066366.53269.21
M3 - Article
C2 - 12832896
AN - SCOPUS:0038110826
SN - 0032-1052
VL - 112
SP - 204
EP - 209
JO - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
JF - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
IS - 1
ER -