This video describes the harvest of autologous fasciolata also known as the iliotibial band of the anterolateral thigh. The lateral aspect of the thigh is exposed at 10 cm above the patella and significant landmarks are noted prior to procedure start. A 4-5 cm transverse incision is made on the skin and separated using gelpy self-retaining retractors. Electrocautery is used to dissect the subcutaneous tissue down to the fascia and blunt dissection may also help to prepare the segment. Using electrocautery on cutting, we begin to excise a 1 cm wide by 12 cm long strip of fascial graft. Once we free the distal end, we affix a suture to the free end. Curved mayo scissors are then used to elongate the harvested strip under direct visualization. We next use a Crawford fascial stripper, a device designed to create a uniform width and depth of a tissue sample. It has a latch-protected, sharp cutting blade at the tip. We use it to excise the remaining half of the fascial strip that lies more proximally beneath the skin. The free sutured end of the graft is threaded through the stripper. The device is advanced along the fascia, excising it on its lateral edges. Once a desired length is achieved, the protective latch is released. The cutting mechanism to excise the graft is activated when the handle is snapped. This permits the terminal excision of the harvested piece of graft. We then release the fascial strip with gentle traction. We apply a delayed absorbable suture at each end of the graft and place it in antibiotic solution. The wound is irrigated and closed in two layers, and a sterile adhesive and dressing are applied. This completes the surgical technique for the autologous fasciolata harvest.

surgical technique

harvesting autologous fasciolata

iliotibial band

anterolateral thigh

fascial graft