Treatment of open wounds of the leg by using local flaps

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Until the 70s, repairing loss of tissue in the leg was almost always difficult, or even impossible. Currently, only the most experienced surgeons are able to repair open wounds of the leg. Nevertheless, several reliable and simple techniques are currently available. This work aimed to evaluate repair techniques for leg wounds by using local tissues.

Method:

The authors performed a retrospective study of cases of leg reconstruction using local flaps. Dermoadipose, fasciocutaneous, fasciosubcutaneous, and muscle flaps were used.

Results:

Seventy patients who had open areas in the leg due to tibial fractures, osteomyelitis, ischemic tissue loss, chronic ulcer, or skin tumor underwent surgery. Results were evaluated according to etiology, type of surgical procedure, and complications.

Conclusions:

The option of treating open wounds of the lower limbs by using local flaps is very valid. Selection of the flap type depended on local conditions in the leg, and the anatomical region affected. In the upper third of the leg, we used fasciocutaneous flaps, based on the vascular network of the knee, or gastrocnemius flaps. In the middle third of the leg, we used the soleus muscle as the primary flap, and fasciosubcutaneous flaps in the calf region. In the lower third of the leg, a fasciosubcutaneous flap of the calf was primarily used.

Keywords:
Gastrocnemius muscle/surgery; Soleus muscle/ surgery; Leg trauma/surgery; Perforator flap/surgery.