Long-term results of through-knee amputation with dorsal musculocutaneous flap in patients with end-stage arterial occlusive disease.

A modified technique of knee joint disarticulation using a dorsal musculocutaneous flap of the gastrocnemius muscle was first described in 1985. The operative results in 66 patients (33 women, 33 men; mean age 66.7 +/- 11.3 years, range 42-93 years) with gangrene due to peripheral vascular disease with 69 knee disarticulations are reported. After a mean survival period of 35.2 months (0-116 months), 88% ( n = 58) of the patients had died owing to cardiopulmonary reasons. The in-hospital 48-day mortality was 9%. Nine patients (14%) underwent reamputation at the above-knee level, and five patients underwent operative revision of the soft tissue. After discharge from the hospital, 35 of 60 patients (58%) 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, functionally acceptable operative method in high risk vascular patients.