[Repairing soft tissue defects in cnemis, ankle and foot with calf and sural distal fasciocutaneous flaps].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical effect of repairing soft tissue defects in cnemis, ankle and foot with calf and sural distal fasciocutaneous flaps.

METHODS: From August 1998 to July 2004, 34 cases of soft tissue defects in cnemis, ankles and feet were repaired with calf and sural distal fasciocutaneous flaps. There were 27 males and 7 females, aging from 17 to 61 years and the disease course was 4 hours to 8 months. The locations were metainferior segment of cnemis in 18 cases, ankle and foot in 11 cases, weight loading region of calcar pedis in 5 cases. There were 13 cases chronic osteomyelitis in tibia or calcaneal bone, 8 cases of raw surface was infected, 3 cases of bone exposure. The sizes of the flap ranged from 6 cm x 4 cm to 15 cm x 12 cm.

RESULTS: Thirty-one flaps survived except 3 cases which had partial necrosis. They were followed up from 6 months to 12 months. Both the quality and the appearance of the flaps were satisfactory. The blood supply and function of cnemis, ankle and foot returned to normal.

CONCLUSION: It is a convenient, simple and reliable method to repair soft tissue defects in cnemis, ankle and foot with calf and sural distal fasciocutaneous flaps,without sacrifice of major arteries and with high survival rate and beautiful outlook form of skin flaps.