Reverse fasciocutaneous sural flap for softtissue coverage in the leg, ankle and foot
Abstract
Background: the objective of this paper is to evaluate the results after the use of distally-based reverse fasciocutaneous sural flap in the reconstruction of soft-tissue loss around the distal tibia, ankle and foot.Methods: twenty fasciocutaneous pedicled reverse sural flaps performed between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Average age of the patients: 42 years (range 6-79), 14 were male and 5 were female. Soft-tissue loss was post-traumatic in 17 cases (one bilateral) and secondary to oncologic resections in two cases. The series included three diabetic patients, one obese woman, and eight smokers. Ten cases had exposed tendons and ten had bony exposure. Defect size averaged 8.9 x 5.75 cm.Results: Follow-up averaged 16 months. Complete soft-tissue defect coverage was achieved in all 20 cases. Hospital stay averaged 3.15 days. Three flaps had superficial necrosis, one flap suffered necrosis of its distal third, and the lower extremity was amputated in a patient due to persistent osteomyelitis.Conclusions: Although multiple coverage options have been described for soft-tissue coverage around the distal tibia, ankle and foot, the reverse sural flap is one of the most frequently used procedures to cover these defects. We evaluated 20 reverse sural flaps, achieving complete soft-tissue coverage in post-traumatic lesions as well as in those defects resulting from oncologic resections.Downloads
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