THE SARTORIUS MYOCUTANEOUS ISLAND FLAP

vascular supply to the distal part of sartorius m. was studied in 37 l imbs by dissection under magnification and after black ink and latex i njections. The muscle or myocutaneous island flap pedicled on the saph enous artery (SA) is supplied by a retrograde circulation through anas tomoses of the SA with the perforating branches of the posterior tibia l artery and the medial inferior genicular artery. Three different vas cular patterns were defined. Retrograde injection also showed good per fusion of the SA. The flap is useful for covering around the knee, the proximal and middle thirds of the lower leg, and the end of the amput ation stump. Raising of the flap has not resulted in any functional or cosmetic defect. Eighteen operations have so far been performed, six using the muscle island flap and twelve using the myocutaneous island flap, and all survived completely.