FLAP COVER OPTIONS FOR KNEE SOFT TISSUE DEFECTS AN INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Aim: To analyze the demography, presentation, surgical reconstructive options of soft tissue defects over knee and evaluate the complications thereby formulating working protocol for flap options. Materials and methods: Among fifteen patients treated from August 2016 to November 2017, taken into the retrospective study , sixteen knee defects were reconstructed with various flaps. Demography, presentation, flap options ,Outcomes and complications were analysed to formulate the protocol for knee reconstruction. Results: A total of 15 patients with age ranging from 27 ? 65 years (median 42 years) with male dominance ( ratio 14:1) who had treated with flaps for knee defects were included in the retrospective study. Trauma was the commonest causative factor of knee defects in 14 cases. Exposed implant[3] was the second most common etiology. We have reconstructed the knee defects with the gastrocnemius [2,6] and vastus lateralis muscle flaps [4], lateral superior genicular artery perforator flap [1], reverse anterolateral thigh flap [5,6] and saphenous flap. We encountered complications in two patients; 1. Wound dehiscence in Gastrocnemius muscle flap which was conservatively managed subsequently. 2. flap failure in Vastus lateralis muscle which was covered with saphenous flap. Conclusion: With proper preoperative planning and by identifying the problems and requirements, we can do excellent durable coverage of the knee defects with high success rate.