A modified technique for harvesting the reverse sural artery flap from the upper part of the leg: inclusion of a gastrocnemius muscle "cuff" around the sural pedicle

In the upper part of the leg, the sural nerve and its accompanying median superficial sural artery are buried between the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle. Several authors found that the reverse sural artery flap was safe only if it was taken from the lower leg along the suprafascial course of the sural pedicle. This author presents a modified technique of harvesting the reverse sural artery flap from the proximal part of the leg: A midline "cuff" of gastrocnemius muscle containing the buried sural pedicle is harvested with the flap. This modification allowed maintaining a "mesenteric" connection between the sural pedicle and the overlying fascia in the upper part of the leg. A comparison between the incidence of ischemic events that occur with reverse sural artery flaps harvested using the standard and the modified techniques confirmed a more stable blood supply with the latter technique. The arterial and venous drainage of the reverse sural artery flap is discussed.     

The reverse sural artery flap for the reconstruction of distal third of the leg and foot

Soft tissue defects around the distal third of the leg and the foot present a major reconstructive challenge. There is limited expertise with free tissue transfers in many developing countries, necessitating consideration of other options for the closure of such defects. The versatility and reliability of sural artery flap have made it an emerging popular option for the reconstruction of such defects. Twenty patients comprising of 13 males and 7 females with soft tissue defects of the lower third of the leg and foot requiring soft tissue cover were treated between January 2006 and December 2010. The age range was 7–58 years with a mean age of 30 years. Nineteen (95%) of the defects were post‐traumatic while one (5%) was post‐infective. All the defects were covered with reversed sural artery flaps, which were raised on the posterior aspect of the junction of the upper and middle third of the leg. The smallest flap was 4 × 4 cm² while the largest measured 20 × 12 cm². The donor defect was closed directly in 7 (35%) patients, while split skin graft was applied in the remaining 13 (65%) patients. There was satisfactory flap healing in 17 patients (85%), while 3 patients (15%) had complete flap necrosis. Two of these patients had significant comorbidities of haemoglobinopathy and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Sural artery flap remains a viable option for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the distal third of the leg and foot. Caution should, however, be exercised in patients with some significant systemic diseases.     

The reverse sural artery adipofasciomuscular flap for the reconstruction of a heel sinus with underlying calcaneal osteomyelitis

The reverse sural artery fasciomusculocutaneous flap has become an acceptable technique of lower-limb reconstruction despite the grafted appearance of the donor site in the upper leg. In an attempt to reduce the donor-site morbidity, we describe the use of the adipofasciomuscular reverse sural artery flap in a patient with a heel sinus and underlying calcaneal osteomyelitis.     

A case of heel reconstruction with a reverse sural artery flap in a hemophilia B patient

Hemophilia B is a rare blood coagulation disorder. Complications such as bleeding and hematoma can cause necrosis of flaps, wound disruption, and the disturbance of wound healing. In particular, guidelines for flap operations in hemophilia B patients have still not been defined, and case reports are rare. We reconstructed the heel of a 41-year-old male hemophilia B patient using a reverse sural artery flap operation. The patient presented with mild hemophilia, having 27% of the normal value of coagulation factor IX. Coagulation and the changing value of the coagulation factor were regularly measured, and 70% of the normal value of coagulation factor IX was maintained through the injection of recombinant coagulation factors and antihemorrhagics. Hematoma developed twice (postoperative day [POD] 5 and POD 7) and in each case the hematoma was removed. Injections of recombinant coagulation factors and antihemorrhagics were continuously administered until postoperative week 2. When the coagulation factors were within normal ranges. In this article, a hemophilia B patient underwent reverse sural artery flap surgery and the healing progress was analyzed. We conclude that higher than baseline levels of coagulation factors are needed for successful healing in reverse sural artery flap surgery.     

Reconstruction of the weight-bearing heel with nonsensate reverse sural artery flaps

BackgroundThe reverse sural artery flap (RSAF) is widely used to reconstruct foot and ankle defects. Although it is commonly used in a nonsensate type, there has been controversy as to whether it provides sufficient stability and durability when applied to weight-bearing heels. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient outcomes after weight-bearing heel coverage using a nonsensate RSAF.MethodsTwenty-three patients who underwent reconstruction surgery of the weight-bearing heel with RSAF from 2004 to 2018 in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively reviewed. All surgeries were performed without a sensate procedure. The patients’ experience of pressure sore on the flap area and the ability to use normal footwear were investigated. Light touch, Semmes-Weinstein test (SWT), and two-point discrimination tests were assessed, along with postoperative wound complications.ResultsHeel damage etiologies included malignant tumors in 14 (61%), trauma-related in 7 (30%) and diabetic ulcers in 2 (9%) patients. Patient mean age was 58 years (range, 18–93 years) and the mean follow-up period was 57 months (range, 12–185 months). The mean size of the flap was 64.1 cm2 (range, 20–169 cm²). All flaps healed without major complications. All returned to daily living activities and 20 (86%) patients were able to use normal footwear. Of the 11 patients who had available measurement records, 8 (73%) showed a light touch sense. The mean SWT value was 4.31 (range, 3.61– 4.56). Two-point discrimination was not observed in any of the patients. Two patients had experienced superficial ulcers on the flap within a one-year postoperative period, which spontaneously healed and did not recur. No full-thickness ulcers were observed during the follow-up period.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that patients who underwent nonsensate RSAF for the reconstruction of the heel could expect to maintain the property for stable weight-bearing without pressure sore.     

The sural artery patency test: a useful precaution in risky patients for the reverse sural flap

The arterial insufficiency is not rare in high risky patients for the reverse sural flap. Thus, we introduce a novel practical technique by performing intraoperative patency test to the sural artery to predetermine the arterial potential, to avoid a possible arterial insufficiency and to increase the reliability of the sural flap in these patients. We successfully applied the reverse sural flap to seven risky patients with crushing injury, mine explosion, and diabetes, in whom the sural artery patency test was positive. The flap size varied from 8 x 5 cm to 16 x 10 cm. The major defect localization was the heel with/without sole. All flaps survived uneventfully with good contours and durabilities. The sural artery patency test obtain us to decide to safely raise the sural flap or not, and to predict the outcomes of the operative procedure in critical wounds associated with poor arterial supply.     

Utilizing a crossover reverse sural artery flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the plantar forefoot after a severe degloving injury

Extensive soft tissue defects involving the weight-bearing areas of the plantar aspect of the foot often require coverage with flaps. The options often include free flaps, free muscle flaps with split-thickness skin grafting, or local flaps. When presented with high-energy-induced soft tissue injuries of the foot, choices become narrow, secondary to the associated zone of injury. Free flaps require a viable recipient vessel suitable for microvascular anastomosis. Split-thickness skin grafts applied to the plantar aspect of the foot are prone to persistent breakdown. Local flaps if available are useful for coverage of plantar soft tissue defects. However, when local flaps of the affected limb are compromised or extension is not sufficient for coverage, crossover leg and foot flaps become invaluable. The reported cases of crossover sural artery flaps are sparse. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the few reported cases of crossover leg and sural artery flaps were described to provide soft tissue coverage over the heel and leg. The authors report a case of a crossover reverse sural artery flap for soft tissue coverage to the plantar aspect of the forefoot after a high-energy-induced degloving injury.     

Anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction utilizing the double-bundle technique

The goal of every orthopaedic surgeon should be to restore anatomy as close as possible to normal. Intense research on reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and an advancing knowledge of the anatomy and function of the 2 primary bundles of the ACL have led to techniques of ACL reconstruction that more closely restore normal anatomy. Restoring the ACL footprint is one of the most important goals of the surgery, and the choice between anatomic single-bundle and double-bundle ACL reconstruction is determined by the anatomical features of each patient. After reconstruction, the graft undergoes a complex, lengthy process of remodeling; therefore, inappropriate (early), aggressive rehabilitation can lead to graft failure and compromise the patient's outcome. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the anatomy and function of the ACL, the methods for anatomic single-bundle and double-bundle ACL reconstruction, and our recommendations for postoperative rehabilitation.     

The reverse sural artery fasciomusculocutaneous flap for small lower-limb defects: the use of the gastrocnemius muscle cuff as a plug for small bony defects following debridement of infected/necrotic bone

The reverse sural artery fasciomusculocutaneous flap is a modification of the original fasciocutaneous flap in which a midline gastrocnemius muscle cuff around the buried sural pedicle is included in the flap. This modification was done to improve the blood supply of the distal part of the flap, which is harvested from the upper leg. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that there is another important advantage of the modified flap: the use of the muscle cuff as a "plug" for small lower limb defects following debridement of infected/necrotic bone. A total of 10 male adult patients with small complex lower-limb defects with underlying bone pathology were treated with the modified flap using the muscle component to fill up the small bony defects. The bony pathology included necrotic exposed bone without evidence of osteomyelitis or wound infection (n = 1), an underlying neglected tibial fracture with wound infection (n = 4), and a sinus at the heel with underlying calcaneal osteomyelitis (n = 5). Primary wound healing of the flap into the defect was noted in all patients. No recurrence of calcaneal osteomyelitis was seen and all tibial fractures united following appropriate orthopedic fixation. It was concluded that the reverse sural artery fasciomusculocutaneous flap is well suited for small complex lower-limb defects with underlying bone pathology.     

Chimeric gastrocnemius muscle and sural artery perforator local flap

Under special circumstances, a chimeric form of combined flap can be advantageous. The formation of such a combination should be possible with any muscle perforator flap and its underlying muscle as a branch-based form of chimeric flap. In 2 patients with knee infections, this concept facilitated the use of local flaps only to simultaneously allow deep obliteration within the knee joint with the muscle portion while providing tension-free skin closure. Specifically, a chimeric gastrocnemius muscle and sural artery perforator flap, the latter based on either the medial or lateral sural source vessels, provided this reasonable solution. This is yet another new example of branch-based chimeric flaps, where the cutaneous component is a muscle perforator flap.     

Popliteal fossa reconstruction with a medial sural artery perforator free flap using the medial sural vessel as the recipient

Background: Reconstruction of the popliteal fossa using a free flap is challenging. Therefore, to facilitate easier free flap reconstruction of the popliteal fossa, we use a medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) free flap with a medial sural vessel as the recipient vessel, as it provides several advantages based on many reports.

Methods: This report describes the authors’ experience and outcomes with this technique. Between October 2010 and January 2015, 10 patients with medium-sized defects in their popliteal fossa underwent MSAP free flap reconstruction using the medial sural vessel as the recipient vessel. The flap size and thickness were evaluated, as well as the pedicle length, for each case.

Results: The skin flap sizes ranged from 60–112?cm². The average flap thickness was 6?mm (range?=?4–8?mm), and the average pedicle length was 7.5?cm (range?=?6–9?cm). Full flap survival was observed in nine cases, and flap tip necrosis was observed in one case during a mean follow-up of 15 months (range?=?3–36 months). MSAP free flap reconstruction was performed for moderate-sized defects in the popliteal fossa, using the medial sural vessel as the recipient vessel.

Conclusion: The obvious advantages of this technique included simple vascular anastomosis (minimal size discrepancy), no intraoperative position changes, and good aesthetic outcomes (replacing like with like).     

Free medial sural artery perforator flap for ankle and foot reconstruction

Resurfacing shallow defects over the ankle and foot with an appropriately thin flap is a common but difficult task. This can be accomplished by harvesting the medial sural artery perforator flap from the medial aspect of the upper calf. Based on the musculocutaneous perforator of the medial sural artery, this flap preserves the medial gastrocnemius muscle and avoids unnecessary flap bulkiness. Between January 2002 and February 2004, we used 2 variants of the free medial sural artery perforator flap for ankle and foot reconstruction in 13 patients (10 fasciocutaneous flaps and 3 adipofascial flaps). In these patients, skin defects were combined with bone, joint, or tendon exposure. The main advantage of this flap is that it provides a thin and pliable coverage to achieve better accuracy in the reconstructive site. Other advantages include maintaining the function of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, providing a long vascular pedicle, and avoiding the need to sacrifice major arteries of the leg. The main disadvantages are the tedious process of intramuscular retrograde dissection of the perforator and the unsightly skin graft over the medial calf.     

Medial sural artery perforator flap for intraoral reconstruction following cancer ablation

In oral cavity reconstruction, the fasciocutaneous flaps of the distal extremities have always been preferred to any other kind of flap because of their thinness and pliability, which makes them adaptable to different areas in the oral cavity. The radial forearm flap is frequently considered the first choice for intraoral reconstruction, but the disadvantages of donor site morbidity include sacrificing a major artery to the hand and leaving a conspicuous donor site scar. The search for another primarily thinned skin flap as an alternative has led to the application of the medial sural artery perforator flap, which is harvested from the medial aspect of the upper calf. Between June 2003 and March 2007, 22 free medial sural artery perforator flaps were transferred for intraoral defects after cancer ablation, including tongue and floor of mouth (15 cases), buccal mucosa (5 cases), retromolar trigone (1 case), and anterior floor of mouth (1 case). We paid attention to the major perforator (vein > or =1 mm), which was confirmed by the endoscope, as the vascular relay for the skin flap. The size of the skin paddle varied from 7.5 x 4 cm to 17 x 8 cm. The main advantage of this flap is that it provides thin and pliable coverage to achieve better accuracy in the oral cavity. Other advantages of minimizing donor site morbidity include maintaining the function of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, avoiding the need to sacrifice major arteries of the leg, and possible primary closure of the donor defect.     

The unstable posterior heel scar: Reconstruction using the reverse sural artery adipofascial flap

The successful use of the reverse sural artery "adipofascial flap" in the management of unstable posterior heel scars is described in 3 patients. The technique of flap harvesting is described, and its advantages are discussed when compared with the reverse sural artery "fasciocutaneous" flap and other techniques of flap reconstruction.     

腓肠浅动脉逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣的临床应用

目的　证实腓肠浅动脉逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣修复小腿下段及足部皮肤软组织缺损的可行性。方法　在小腿后侧设计及切取腓肠浅动脉岛状筋膜皮瓣 ,逆行移转修复 15例小腿下段及足部皮肤软组织缺损。皮瓣最大面积 10cm× 8cm ,最小 5cm× 4cm。结果　 15例筋膜皮瓣全部成活 ,经 6～ 18个月的随访 ,效果良好。结论　腓肠浅动脉逆行岛状筋膜皮瓣血供可靠 ,不牺牲知名动脉 ,操作简便 ,为修复小腿下段及足部皮肤软组织缺损提供了一个新方法。     

The reverse sural flap: modifications to improve efficacy in foot and ankle reconstruction

The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of the reverse sural flap in covering defects in the foot and ankle region when certain technical modifications are employed. We provide a retrospective review of 32 consecutive reverse sural flaps for foot and ankle defects, and compare the technique and results with other reports. There were 23 fasciocutaneous flaps, 7 fascial flaps, and 2 tissue-expanded flaps. Four flaps (12.5%) suffered significant flap loss, and 4 patients had delayed healing.Several modifications are suggested to increase the versatility of the sural flap in covering foot and ankle defects, including preserving the mesentery connecting the sural nerve to the deep fascia, inclusion of skin of the upper third of the leg, limiting pedicle width to 2 cm with preservation of a tongue-like skin process all along its length, and generous release of the fascia over the peroneal compartment. In addition, we describe the use of tissue expanded sural flaps.