[Repairing soft-tissue defection of ankle and foot by sural neurovascular pedicle fasciocutaneous reversed island flap].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical application of sural neurovascular pedicle fasciocutaneous reversed island flap to repair soft-tissue defection of the ankle and foot.

METHODS: From Sep. 1994 to Oct. 2004,29 patients with soft-tissue defects in the ankle and foot were repaired by use of sural neurovascular fasciocutaneous reversed island flap, including 15 cases of traumatic defects, 11 cases of burns and 3 cases of chronic ulcer. The flap area ranged from 5 cm x 7 cm to 12 cm x 20 cm, and the length of pedicle from 5 cm to 12 cm.

RESULTS: The flaps survived totally in 27 cases, the distal necrosed partially and secondary free-skin grafting were further conducted in 2 cases. Twenty-one cases were followed-up for 3 to 60 months,the circulation, color and texture of the flaps were excellent and 2-point discrimination was 10 - 15 mm. The appearance and function of ankle joints were good.

CONCLUSION: This flap has sufficient blood supply and a high survival rate; It is convenient in design, dissection and without sacrifice of major arteries. So, it is an effective method for the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in ankle and foot.