Management of lower limb burns using suspension of the leg by means of ASIF bone screws. An analysis of the results.

Skin grafts on the dorsal side of the legs are liable to failure because of mechanical trauma, maceration and subsequent infection. Suspension of the legs in traction is a well-known method to overcome these problems. In 1984 and 1985, in 14 patients who underwent skin grafting on the dorsum of the leg, suspension was attained by means of two ASIF screws drilled in the ventral side of the proximal and distal tibia. The 'take' percentage of the transplantations on the dorsum of the legs was the same as the 'take' percentage of skin grafts on other sites of the body. No serious complications were encountered.