Some Neurofasciocutaneous Flaps in the Coverage of Lower Leg Soft Tissue Defects

Kyong-Ae Ri; Un-Hui Jong; Su-Ryon Ryang; Chong-Song Kim; So-Hyok Ri; Hye-Yon Kim; Jong-Yol Choe

Abstract

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of heel, ankle, and distal third of the leg is one of the most difficult assignments for plastic surgeons and it remains a challenge to seek safer options with less morbidity. We report on 28 pedicle perforator flaps without harvesting major vessels in the lower leg reconstruction. In the lower extremities, there were 16 sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps with an axis on the sural nerve, 8 superficial peroneal neurofasciocutaneous flaps with an axis on the superficial peroneal nerve and 4 saphenous neurofasciocutaneous flaps with an axis on the saphenous nerve. We closed and reconstructed the soft tissue defects by using the neurofasciocutaneous flaps, which are technically simple to execute, do not sacrifice a major source vessel, require not a long time for procedures, and have a good skin texture. As a result, we found that the elevation of the flap is easier and wide rotation of flap is possible in neurofasciocutaneous flap, and this flap does not sacrifice major source vessels and does not require a long time and microsurgical expertise. Also flap thickness is adequate to be tolerable against friction and the operation can be completed in a single-stage procedure.

Abstract

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