The distally based superficial sural flap: our experience in reconstructing the lower leg and foot

The treatment of soft-tissue defects of the lower third of the leg and foot is often an awkward problem to tackle because of the frequent involvement of muscle, tendon, and bone, which is caused by the thinness and poor circulation of the skin covering them and by the small quantity of local tissue available for reconstruction. The authors present their experience with the use of sural flaps for the treatment of small- and medium-size defects of the distal region of the lower limb. The flap used was a distally based fasciocutaneous flap raised in the posterior region of the lower two thirds of the leg. Vascularization was ensured by the superficial sural artery, which accompanies the sural nerve together with the short saphenous vein. The authors treated 18 patients (12 men and 6 women) from May 1997 to August 1999 at the Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Turin, Italy. Superficial necrosis without involvement of the deep fascia (which was grafted 1 month later) occurred in 1 patient of the 18 treated. In another 2 patients, defects were found in the flap margins, but no additional surgical revision was necessary, and recovery occurred by secondary intention. In every patient the sural flaps provided good coverage of the defects, both from a functional and an aesthetic point of view. The major advantages of this flap are its easy and quick dissection. Because the major arterial axis is not sacrificed, this flap can be used in a traumatic leg with damaged major arteries.     

The distally based sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap for foot reconstruction.

Finding appropriate soft-tissue to cover a wound located over the middle or distal portion of the foot can be challenging. A distally based sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap including the sural nerve and a midline cuff of the gastrocnemius muscle can be used for this purpose. This flap is designed on the proximal third of the posterior calf and is nourished in a retrograde manner by the lower peroneal septocutaneous perforators, through the vascular axis of the sural nerve to the musculocutaneous perforators of the gastrocnemius muscle. Between October of 2002 and January of 2004, this flap was applied in nine individuals, including four diabetic patients. The skin defects all resulted from trauma, osteomyelitis or chronic ulcer, and combined with bone or tendon exposure. One flap developed distal necrosis. The other flaps survived fully and provided good contour. In our series, diabetes mellitus seemed not to compromise the vascularity of the flap. The distally based sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap is very useful for lower limb reconstruction, particularly for the foot, because of its long vascular pedicle and the availability of the skin portion of the proximal calf based on direct branches between the musculocutaneous perforators and the neurovascular axis of the sural nerve. This is an important variant of the sural neurocutaneous flap and it appears to be a good alternative to free flaps for resurfacing the foot.     

Distally-based sural flap for reconstruction of the lower leg and foot.

A distally-based sural flap was used in four patients with soft-tissue defects in the lower leg and foot. All flaps survived completely without venous congestion. To make safe use of this flap it is important to include both the sural nerve and the lesser saphenous vein in the flap. It also seems to be important to include the surrounding fatty tissues in the pedicle and to avoid compression at the point of its angulation. This flap has the advantages that it is quick and easy to raise, and the reconstruction can be done in a single operation. It is unnecessary to sacrifice the major arteries in the leg, although the sural nerve must be sacrificed. In general this type of reconstruction of the lower leg and foot is beneficial in cases similar to those presented here.     

Use of distally based superficial sural island artery flaps in acute open fractures of the lower leg.

The reverse sural artery flap is a fasciocutaneous flap based on the median superficial sural artery and its communication with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery situated in the region of the lateral malleolar gutter. Reverse flow is established after elevation of the flap and with division of the sural artery and the nerve proximally. The authors present resurfacing of acute open fractures of the lower third of the leg in 7 patients immediately after the acute phase of injury. Reconstruction was carried out within an average of 3 days after injury. All 7 patients sustained low-velocity injuries. Although 2 patients had partial necrosis of the distal tip of the flap, all patients had excellent recovery with minimal donor site morbidity.     

Salvage of the distal foot using the distally based sural island flap

The authors describe their additional experience with the distally based sural island flap for reconstruction of the whole foot, including the forefoot area in 8 patients. The flap is vascularized by the lowermost perforating branches of the peroneal artery. The skin flap can be elevated, based on the lesser saphenous vein and its accompanying arteries, in all parts of the sural region. This modification allows a farther reach of the flap for coverage of the distal foot and sole. All flaps, innervated by the lateral sural cutaneous nerves, were able to provide protective sensation in the distal soles. In 7 patients the flaps survived completely, and only 1 patient had partial necrosis of the flap. The advantage of this flap is its constant and reliable blood supply without sacrifice of the major artery. Elevation of the flap is simple and rapid. This flap is a versatile alternative that should be considered prior to a free flap transfer.     

The distally based neurocutaneous sural flap: a good choice for reconstruction of soft tissue defects of lower leg, foot and ankle due to fourth degree burn injury

OBJECTIVE: Debridment of fourth degree burn wound usually leads to soft tissue loss. If these wound are on distal one-third of lower leg and ankle, a simple wound changes to a complex problem. Options are available for these conditions, but each of them have advantages and disadvantages. The distally based neurocutaneous sural flap is one recent flap available for this problem which has excellent results and decreased disadvantages. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2004, all patients with acute fourth degree burns or unstable scar on the distal third of lower leg, foot or ankle that referred to our hospital were scheduled for reconstruction by sural flap. The success rate and ability of the flap to create stable durable coverage at these sites were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients from 1.5 to 75 years old were included to this study. We had excellent result with this type of flap in 14, we had 100% success rate without necrosis. Only in one patient (a 75 years old man with a history of diabetes mellitus) we had a 0.5cm necrosis of distal margin of flap which healed completely after one session of debridement. All patients were completely satisfied with this flap. CONCLUSION: Because of few drawbacks of this flap and high success rate and relative simple operative technique, we recommend sural flap as a prime option for repair of fourth degree burn, at distal leg, foot and ankle.     

Reverse fasciosubcutaneous flap versus distally pedicled sural island flap: two elective methods for distal-third leg reconstruction

In case of soft-tissue injury to the distal third of the leg, a safe and effective repair technique should be adopted. The use of complex procedures such as free flaps and cross-leg flaps is not always advisable. The authors present two methods that have proved to be both reliable and effective in obtaining long-lasting satisfactory results: the reverse fasciosubcutaneous sural flap and the reverse fasciocutaneous island sural flap. Since 1992 the authors have operated on 25 patients affected by traumatic tissue loss of the distal third of the leg and the calcaneal region. They used the fasciosubcutaneous flap in 14 patients and the sural flap in 11. Both of these flaps are technically simple, safe, and effective, and cause minimal injury to the donor site. The sural flaps are more useful for moderate-size wounds, especially in the calcaneal region, whereas the fasciosubcutaneous flap is better for repairing larger lesions of the leg and the ankle.     

Lower leg reconstruction using distally based saphenous island flap

Fourteen patients with a soft tissue defect of the lower leg are presented. The cause of the defect was trauma in eight cases; unstable scar in two and the remaining cases had chronic osteomyelitis, pathological fracture, chronic non-healing ulcer, and diabetic foot. Each defect was covered by a distally based saphenous neurocutaneous island flap. Clinically, the flaps ranged in size from 4ǹ cm to 18Ǽ cm. Nine flaps survived completely, two had marginal necrosis, another two had partial necrosis while one flap was lost completely. However, the fascia in failed flaps survived, allowing subsequent grafting. The distally based saphenous neurocutaneous island flap is a simple, versatile, one-stage procedure with a good arc of rotation and it does not require sacrifice of a major artery.     

腓动脉穿支跨区供血的腓肠神经营养血管逆行岛状皮瓣的解剖和临床应用

目的　观察小腿皮肤腓浅动脉与腓动脉穿支之间的吻合联系 ,设计以腓动脉穿支为蒂的岛状皮瓣。方法　 10具新鲜尸体 2 0侧肢体血管灌注氧化铅—明胶混合液 ,通过X线片显示小腿皮肤内的血管结构和血管之间的吻合。在此基础上应用了跨区供血的腓动脉穿支蒂逆行岛状皮瓣 2 6例。结果　解剖研究表明小腿腓肠神经营养血管主要来自腓浅动脉。在外踝后上方 4～ 7cm处腓动脉穿支与腓浅动脉或动脉网形成广泛吻合。以腓动脉穿支为蒂设计包含腓肠神经及其伴行的腓浅动脉和小隐静脉的返流岛状皮瓣 2 6例 ,皮瓣全部成活。结论　跨区供血的腓动脉穿支为蒂的岛状皮瓣 ,为修复小腿远端及足跟部软组织缺损提供了一种简单有效的方法。     

Distally based superficial sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap: a reliable solution for distal lower extremity reconstruction

The objective of this study is to present a simple and rapid approach to elevate a consistent superficial sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap and show its clinical applications. All the patients with lower limb defects who underwent reconstruction using the distally based fasciomusculocutaneous sural flap were included in the study. The flap was elevated with a cuff of gastrocnemius muscle under the skin paddle, and the distal pedicle was dissected until 5 cm over the lateral malleolus. The donor site is primarily closed or skin-grafted. From March 2004 to August 2006, this distally based superficial sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap was applied to nine patients. All the defects resulted from traumatic injuries of the distal third of the leg, ankle, or foot, combined with bone or tendon exposure. Two flaps developed minor distal skin necrosis that recovered uneventfully with conservative therapy. The other flaps had an adequate postoperative evolution with good blood supply, contour, and function. The superficial sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap is a simple and consistent alternative for distal lower limb reconstruction, particularly when microsurgery is not available.     

腓肠神经逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣重建足远端部分缺损

目的报道应用带腓肠神经营养血管逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣及髂骨植骨重建足远端部分缺损的方法,探讨皮瓣转位范围。方法2002年3月～2006年2月,应用腓肠神经筋膜皮瓣及髂骨植骨修复32例足远端1/3外侧软组织和骨缺损患者。其中男23例,女9例;年龄17～58岁,平均35．2岁。本组32侧肢体,共32块皮瓣,其中12例患者进行髂骨植骨。开放创面27例,其中感染创面8例;无菌创面5例。创面面积为4．0 cm×7．0 cm～7．0 cm×16．0 cm。髂骨移植长度为4．0～7．0 cm,平均5．0 cm。手术先根据跖骨骨缺损大小切取髂骨,接着处理受区创面,然后将切取的髂骨植入跖骨骨缺损处,在电视透视下用克氏针固定,建立足外侧骨支架,最后利用腓肠神经逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣覆盖创面。结果32例患者获5～27个月(平均12．7个月)随访。皮瓣一期存活30例;皮瓣远端部分表皮坏死2例,经换药后愈合。髂骨移植一期骨愈合11例,愈合时间为3～14个月,平均5．7个月;骨不愈合1例,经再次植骨后愈合。皮瓣外形良好28例,皮瓣臃肿4例。供区创面一期愈合,无功能障碍。术后患足功能根据Maryland足部评分系统评价:优19例,良10例,可3例,优良率为90．6％。结论腓肠神经逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣结合髂骨植骨是重建足远端部分缺损较理想的方法。     

Experience with the distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap supplied by the terminal perforator of peroneal vessels for ankle and foot reconstruction

The distally based sural fasciocutaneous flap has been proved an excellent option for coverage of the soft tissue defects of the lower third of the leg, ankle, and foot. In this article, we reported on a series of foot and ankle reconstructions with a distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap supplied by the terminal perforating branch of the peroneal artery. The vascular pedicle of the flap includes the terminal perforator branch of the peroneal artery and concomitant veins. The pivot point is approximately 5 cm above the tip of lateral malleolus. Fifteen patients with soft tissue defects of the foot and/or ankle underwent the procedures of reconstruction. The flaps were designed with the size measuring 8 x 9 cm to 13 x 31 cm. Thirteen flaps survived completely and 2 with partial or margin necrosis. Our experience has demonstrated that this sural flap with a thin perforator pedicle can be easily rotated, used for coverage of a large tissue defect including the forefoot area, and provide a good texture match and contour for the recipient area.     

逆行腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣治疗小腿及足踝部软组织缺损

目的：观察应用腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣修复小腿下段及足踝部创伤性软组织缺损的临床效果。方法：以逆行腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣修复小腿下段及足踝部因创伤致软组织缺损187例。皮瓣最大面积14cm×13cm,最小4cm×3cm。结果：修复小腿下段113例皆获成功,伤口1期愈合,11例皮肤边缘坏死,换药治愈,4例坏死面积较大,经换药,邮票植皮且治愈,足及踝部修复54例,伤口1期愈合,5例局部坏死,经换药后获治愈。结论：应用逆行腓肠肌神经营养血管皮瓣可以有效修复小腿及足踝部皮肤缺损,此皮瓣血运丰富,手术操作简便。     

The distally based sural fascio-cutaneous flap. A new technic for the coverage of loss of substance of the lower leg

Prognosis of compound open fractures has been transformed by the use of plastic surgery to cover wounds. However, loss of substance of lower third of leg remains a delicate problem frequently requiring the use of microsurgical techniques by experienced teams. The sural cutaneo-aponeurotic distal base flap, the subject of a detailed anatomical study by the authors, can resolve the problem without affecting muscle capital and at the price of minor esthetic sequelae. Results in two clinical cases confirm reliability of this flap.     

The versatility of the distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap in reconstructive surgery of the foot and lower leg

Soft tissue and bone defects of the lower leg, ankle, and heel region often require coverage by local or distant flaps. The authors successfully used the distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap for the treatment of 15 patients with osteomyelitis (n = 5), melanoma (n = 1), Achilles tendon defects (n = 6), posttraumatic bone defects (n = 2), and chronic diabetic heel ulcer (n = 1). The size of the defects ranged from 6 to 60 cm. All defects were covered successfully without major complications by the muscle flap. The distally based peroneus brevis muscle represents a very reliable flap for coverage of small and moderate defects of the medial and lateral malleolus, the Achilles tendon, and the heel area. This flap offers a convincing alternative for covering defects in the distal leg region and is often preferable to the use of free flaps because the surgery is rapidly performed and does not require microsurgical expertise.