[Repair of the skin defect on the remote part of the lower limb with the distally-based sural nerve nutritional artery island flap].

OBJECTIVE

The study was to verify the existence of the nutritional artery accompanying the sural nerve and to design a distally based island skin flap nourished by this artery for repairing skin defects on the remote part of the lower limb.

METHODS

Anatomical study on 15 cadaver lower limbs and clinical applications in 7 cases were performed.

RESULTS

The sural nerve nutritional artery is plexiform, forming anastomoses with the vascular network in the superficial and deep fascia. All 7 skin flaps depending on this arterial supply survived in clinical practice.

CONCLUSION

This flap has high success rate. The operation is less traumatic and easy to perform. For the repair of the lower limb, it is a good option.