The hemisoleus rotational flap provides a novel superior autograft reconstructive option for the treatment of chronic extensor mechanism disruption

Abstract

Chronic disruption of the extensor mechanism is a devastating problem after total knee arthroplasty. Quadriceps tendon ruptures occur at an estimated 0.1% prevalence in the setting of total knee arthroplasty. Complete tears of the quadriceps tendon generally have poor results and high rates of rerupture. We present a case of a quadriceps tendon rupture after total knee arthroplasty which reruptured after initial direct repair. The patient presented to us with a chronically retracted rerupture and was subsequently reconstructed successfully with a novel extended medial gastrocnemius-soleus-calcaneus local rotational pedicle flap.

Keywords

• Total knee arthroplasty
• Extensor mechanism
• Salvage
• Autograft