The proximally-based sural artery flap for coverage of soft tissue defects around the knee and on the proximal third and middle third of the lower leg: 10 patients followed for 1-2.5 years.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There have been few reports regarding the proximally based sural artery flap, which is useful for reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the knee and on the proximal third and middle third of the lower leg. Here we report our experience with 10 patients.

PATIENTS: The defects in our 10 cases were around the knee (4), on the proximal third of the lower leg (4), and on the middle third (2). 8 patients had fasciocutaneous flaps and 2 had adipofascial flaps. The flap size ranged from 4 to 10 cm in length, and from 5 to 8 cm in width. The pedicle length ranged from 12 to 20 cm.

RESULTS

All 10 flaps survived. Congestion and tip necrosis occurred in 1 case with a fasciocutaneous flap, which healed without complications. A superficial infection occurred in 1 case with a fasciocutaneous flap, which healed with antibiotic treatment. Necrosis of grafted skin occurred in 2 cases of adipofascial flap; only one of them, however, required additional surgery. No morbidity of the donor site and no functional deficits were detected in any of the 10 cases.

INTERPRETATION: The proximally based sural artery flap is useful for reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the knee joint and on the proximal third and middle third of the lower leg. It is a relatively easy and reliable procedure.