The Orthopedic clinics of North America
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Orthop. Clin. North Am. · Apr 2008
ReviewSoft tissue coverage of the elbow: a reconstructive algorithm.
Soft tissue defects can occur for various reasons, but they are primarily due to trauma, tumor, and infection. Coverage choices may include primary closure, skin grafting, local cutaneous flaps, fasciocutaneous transposition flaps, island fascial or fasciocutaneous flaps, muscle or myocutaneous pedicled flaps, and microvascular free-tissue transfer. Despite the multitude of options for coverage, the authors have found four flaps to provide reliable coverage for most elbow deficits within their practice; these flaps are the latissimus dorsi flap, the radial forearm flap, the anconeus flap, and the free anterior lateral thigh flap. This article provides an overview of treatment options for elbow coverage, with specific emphasis on the use of these four specific flaps.
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Posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow is the most common pattern of chronic lateral elbow instability. The primary lesion in posterolateral rotatory instability is injury or attenuation of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament. ⋯ Reconstruction of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament with repair of the surrounding soft tissue structures is recommended in patients who have symptoms of recurrent lateral instability. Open and arthroscopic reconstruction techniques have resulted in improvement of elbow function and satisfactory results in most patients, although mild limitation in terminal extension of the elbow is a common finding.