[Results of transgenicular amputation with dorsal skin-muscle flap-plasty in patients in the final stage of arterial occlusive disease].

A modified technique of knee joint disarticulation by using a dorsal musculocutaneous flap of the gastrocnemius muscle was first described in 1985. The retrospective operative results in 60 patients with gangrene due to peripheral vascular disease (mean age 69 +/- 12 [43-93] years, 29 female, 31 male) with 62 knee disarticulations are reported. After a mean survival period of 18 (1-53) months 47% (n = 28) of the patients had died due to cardiopulmonal reasons after a mean follow-up period of 26 (3-71) months. In-hospital 48 day-lethality was 10%. 9 patients (15%) were re-amputated at above-knee level and in 5 patients operative revisions of the soft tissue were performed. After discharge from hospital 29 of 54 patients (54%) were able to walk with the aid of a prosthesis. We conclude that knee disarticulation with the use of a myocutaneous gastrocnemius flap is a safe and functionally acceptable operative method in high-risk vascular patients.