This study revealed that patellofemoral joint kinematics in the operated extremity was diminished in the sagittal plane correlating with the quadriceps muscle volume loss and gracilis muscle hypertrophy. The modalities focused on both preventing and treating the hypotrophy of the quadriceps muscle following the surgical treatment of tibial fracture, which may help to overcome this quite common pathology.

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Background Microsurgical lower extremity reconstruction remains challenging, especially when resources are limited such as lack of proper equipment, human resources, administrative support, and located in a remote area far from tertiary care. Nevertheless, reconstructive solutions are required, especially when in urgent trauma situations. In this article, we evaluate ways of overcoming challenges and issues that should be considered in a newly established unit by sharing our initial lower extremity reconstruction experience. Methods We report a local hospital's initial lower extremity reconstruction experience in February 2017 to January 2018. Through a total of seven patients, we tried to enhance the environment, instruments, nurses' contribution, and perspective of the peers and community in terms of factors related to the surgeon, hardware, environment, supporting faculty, reimbursement, and patients. Results Four patients underwent reconstruction with a freestyle propeller flap and three with an anterolateral thigh flap; in one case, a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap was chosen to salvage partial flap necrosis. Increased experience of the surgeon, new equipment, continuing nurse/patient education, and collaborating with other departments allowed us to choose more challenging flaps and be more meticulous while decreasing the operation time and hospital stay. Conclusion To start a lower extremity reconstruction practice in a resource-poor environment, the surgeon needs to evaluate the relevant factors; moreover, he or she should continuously improve them until a working methodology is achieved. Despite all the challenges, the adaptations learned at this center can be applied to other local hospitals around the world to set up a lower extremity reconstruction practice and improve its outcomes.

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Surgical site infection is a challenging situation for all types of surgeons. Extensive debridement with or without implant removal can create soft tissue defects. A well-vascularized, adequate soft tissue is needed to cover the wound and to fill the dead space for proper healing. Herein, we describe our approach to a large posterior trunk defect with dead space and our solution to manage an intraoperative complication using a free-style deepithelialized propeller flap.