The composite meniscal-capsular-fat pad flap in a lateral approach to the fixed valgus knee: an anatomical study.

We present an anatomical study on the vascular supply to the patellar fat pad. Forty knees from fresh cadavers were dissected after injecting the femoral artery with colored latex. In all cases, the vascular supply to the fat pad depended essentially on the lateral inferior genicular artery, which enters this structure at its posterolateral extent. In the cases in which the fat pad flap was raised before the injection of latex, we observed good vascularization of the flap by the lateral genicular artery. This is a safe vascularized flap that offers an optimal covering of knee prostheses in fixed valgus knee deformities. An optimal procedure for raising the flap is proposed.