[Perforator propeller flap for cutaneous coverage of the knee]

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Microsurgery

Background:

• Traditional pedicled flaps for knee coverage have limitations in rotation and defect matching.
• Freestyle perforator flaps offer a patient-specific approach to reconstructive surgery.

Observation:

• Three patients with skin loss over the knee were treated using propeller perforator flaps.
• Surgical planning involved Echo-Doppler to identify suitable perforator vessels around the wound.
• Two superomedial flaps with self-closing donor sites and one superolateral flap requiring a graft were performed.

Findings:

• All three patients achieved complete healing within six weeks post-surgery.
• The reconstructive procedure resulted in satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes for all patients.
• Propeller perforator flaps demonstrated reliability and predictability in covering knee defects.

Implications:

• Freestyle perforator flaps represent a viable and predictable reconstructive option for knee skin defects.
• The technique offers low morbidity, making it suitable for a range of patients requiring knee coverage.
• This approach enhances patient anatomy matching for defect reconstruction, improving functional and aesthetic results.