A MUSCLE-SPARING TECHNIQUE FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE DEFECT LEFT AFTER EXCISIONAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY

Muscle flap closure is the treatment of choice for coverage of the fai led hip arthroplasty defect. Several described muscle flaps work well, but they sacrifice functioning parts of the abdominal wall or quadric eps femoris mechanisms. The authors describe the use of the tenser fas cia lata musculocutaneous flap for this purpose. The technique describ ed has been previously used successfully to reconstruct over 100 troch anteric pressure sores. This flap spares more important muscles, requi res no skin graft, and exposes the deep wound well for debridement.