[Clinical application of the medial multiplex flap pedicled with the posterior tibial vessel].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical results of the medial multiplex flap pedicled with the posterior tibial vessel.

METHODS: Twelve cases with soft tissue defects and bone defects of limbs were treated with the medial multiplex flap pedicled with the posterior tibial vessel from September 1992 to May 1999. Among them, bone and soft tissue defects following opened fracture in 7 cases, chronic ulcer following chronic osteomyelitis in 2 cases, melanoepithelioma in 2 cases, bone and soft tissue defects following osteoma resection in 1 case. The bone defect area was from 2.5 cm x 5.0 cm to 4.5 cm x 11.0 cm. Free graft was performed in 5 cases, bridged transposition in 3 cases and reversal transposition in 4 cases, among them, periosteal myocutaneous flap with autogenous or allogeneic bone grafting in 8 cases, myocutaneous flap in 4 cases. The area of the flaps from 6 cm x 8 cm to 12 cm x 25 cm.

RESULTS: All flaps were healed by first intention, but in the distal fragments of bigger flaps were partially necrosed in 2 cases. In 10 cases bone healing were obtained after 16 weeks of operation according to the X-ray photos. All cases were followed up from 6 to 18 months. All cases achieved satisfactory result but 1 case died because of lung metastasis of osteoma.

CONCLUSION: The multiplex graft pedicled with the posterior tibial vessel is an ideal graft for repairing the large soft tissue defects and bone defects, because it has such advantages as adequate blood supply, big vascular diameter, long pedicle and big dermatomic area.