Use of the anterolateral thigh free flap for the soft tissue coverage of Gustilo grade-ⅢB open bone fractures in lower extremities

Objective To investigate the clinical results of the anterolateral thigh free flaps for the soft tissue coverage of Gustilo grade-Ⅲ B open bone fractures in lower extremities.Methods The anterolateral thigh free flaps were applied to treat 42 Gustilo grade-11Ⅲ B open fractures.Ten flaps were performed through an emergency procedure.Sixteen were performed at early stage and the other 16 were performed at later stage .The results of the therapy were analyzed after long time follow up. Results All limbs were salvaged and all the flaps survived without protracted course to obtain soft tissue coverage.The follow up ranged 11 to 47 months.The healing time of the bones were significant prolonged in the later stage therapy group compared with the emergency therapy group and the early stage therapy group.In the later stage therapy group,the incidences of the bone infection and nonunion were also higher than the other two groups,and the second stage bone transplantation to repair bone defect and nonunion were needed in 76% patients in this group.The lower limb functions of the later stage treated group were worse than those of the other two groups.Compared to the early stage treated group,better lower limb functions could be obtained in the emergency treated group. Conclusion Delayed soft tissue coverage resulted in higher incidence of complications.The immediate soft tissue coverage of severely injured limbs complicated by Gustilo grade-Ⅲ B open fractures and massive soft tissue defects had the advantages over traditional methods.Hard work though it was,one-stage soft tissue coverage using anterolateral thigh free flaps could obtain better lower limb function.