Free peroneal flap for wide skin defects of the foot and volar scar contracture of the hand.

Since May 1981, the authors have transferred 14 free peroneal flaps, with no failures. The advantages of this flap are that the subcutaneous fat is thin, branches of the peroneal artery can be easily located, the vascular pedicle is long, and vessel diameter at the junction of the peroneal artery is 1.0 to 1.5 mm. After the branches of the peroneal artery and vein are identified and carefully preserved, they are anastomosed to preselected vessels at the recipient site, using the operating microscope at 10 to 16 X magnification. When two branches of the peroneal artery are used, a larger flap is obtainable, but no sequelae or dysfunction at the donor site have been observed. In the reported series, the anastomoses were all carried out by one surgeon (HN).