[Reconstruction of postburn popliteal fossa contractures using popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of blood supply of popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps and the feasibility of reconstruction of postburn popliteal fossa contractures using the flaps in children.

METHODS: Between January 2008 and October 2010, 6 cases of postburn popliteal fossa contractures were recontructed using popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flaps. Of them, 2 were boys and 4 were girls, aged from 2 years and 2 months to 10 years. All burns were caused by hot water. The wound ranged from 5 cm x 4 cm to 10 cm x 8 cm after scar relaxation. The size of the flap ranged from 6 cm x 4 cm to 11 cm x 9 cm. Donor sites were covered with split-thickness skin graft in 5 cases, and sutured directly in 1 case.

RESULTS: All the flaps and the skingraft survived; no vascular crisis or flap necrosis occurred. All incisions at donors and wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-24 months. The color, texture, and appearance of the flaps were good. Hyperplastic scar was found at incision of popliteal fossa in 1 case at 6 months after operation; the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint was 0-175 degrees, and no obvious change was observed at 15 months after operation. The others had no functional disturbance of the knee joints or claudication; the ROM of the knee joint was 0-180 degrees.

CONCLUSION: The popliteal fossa middle artery pedicled flap has reliable blood supply, simple operative procedure, and good results in reconstruction of popliteal fossa contracture.