Reconstruction of knee joint soft tissue and patellar tendon defects using a composite anterolateral thigh flap with vascularized fascia lata

SummaryReconstruction of a complex knee trauma with knee joint exposure and composite soft tissue and patellar tendon deficiency remains a challenging task. Multiple-stage reconstruction is time-consuming and produces considerable suffering for patients. Early mobilization following knee reconstruction has achieved good outcomes. Herein, we reported one-stage reconstruction with an ALT myocutaneous flap with vascularized fascia lata was utilized for one patient with a large complex knee joint soft tissue defect, and segmental deficiency of the patellar tendon. The fascia lata sheet was rolled to mimic a patellar tendon. The exposed knee joint was obturated by the vastus lateralis muscle of the ALT myocutaneous flap. The skin and soft tissue defect was reconstructed using the skin paddle of the ALT flap. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. An MRI examination demonstrated good continuity of the reconstructed patellar tendon. The active ROM of the injured knee reached 100° (extension deficiency 20° and flexion 120°) at 5 years. Objective functional assessment of the patella-femoral joint utilized a kinetic communicator machine (Kin-Com 500H, Chattecx, Chattanooga, TN, USA) revealed still mild extension insufficiency. However, the patient reported that he was able to perform normal daily activities without difficulty at 5-year follow-up.