Medial gastrocnemius transposition flap for the treatment of disruption of the extensor mechanism after total knee arthroplasty

ABSTRACT: We describe a modified technique for the salvage of a total knee arthroplasty after disrup-tion of the extensor mechanism. Between January and December 1992, seven patients had reconstruction of the extensor mechanism with use of a medial or an extended medial gastrocnemius flap. Six of the seven patients were followed for a mean of thirty-three months (range, twenty-six to forty-one months) and were evaluated both preoperatively and postopera-tively with regard to the knee and functional scores of The Knee Society as well as the range of motion, extensor lag, walking status, and patellar height. The seventh patient was lost to follow-up six months post-operatively and was excluded from the analysis of the results