9811-2230 Lemperle
Lemperle G, Exner K.
The resection of gastrocnemius muscles in aesthetically disturbing calf hypertrophy.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998 Nov;102(6):2230-6. PMID: 9811025
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Markus-Hospital,
Frankfurt, Germany.
In some patients, oversized calves lead to mental distress and avoidance of
certain social activities. They hide their legs in pants and seek medical
advice. If the thickness of the subcutaneous fat is normal and cannot be
diminished by liposuction, the oversized calves are caused by pure muscle
hypertrophy. Using the gastrocnemius for muscle flaps in covering knee defects
does not impair the function of the patient's leg; therefore, resection of the
total gastrocnemius muscle for aesthetic calf reduction was performed in 15
consecutive patients without any lasting impairment with stability or sports
activities. The patient was placed in a prone position, and the muscles were
bluntly freed and pulled through two incisions of 5-cm length in the hollow of
the knee and above the Achilles tendon. The resected muscles weighed between 410
and 810 g each. In two patients, the sural nerve was stretched or cut during the
operation. The consequent numbness of the lateral ankle and sole persisted for 9
and 13 months, respectively. All 15 patients were satisfied with the results;
none complained of lack of stability or insecurity in walking; and all became
active in sports or changed their dress habits.
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