Soft-tissue coverage of the elbow.

The elbow requires a durable and pliable soft-tissue envelope. Injuries, infections, or tumors that result in exposed tendon, bone, or implants require expedient soft-tissue coverage. Familiarity with various options for coverage can help tailor treatment to the defect size and minimize donor-site morbidity. In this article, emphasis is placed on muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps that have been shown to have reliable vascularity and predictable outcomes.