[The "vessel case flap". About one case in the lower limb].

The authors report an atypical case of lower limb repair in a 69-year-old patient, who presented a closed fracture of the tibia initially fastened with a plate. Skin necrosis developed after osteosynthesis, exposing the plate and the fracture bone. Because of the vascular state of the patient (smoking, arteritis, diabetes), any microsurgical procedure seemed likely to fail. The incisions previously performed contraindicated any form of pedicle flap in the leg area. An original solution was then proposed, involving the long extensor muscle of the great toe pedicled proximally on the anterior tibial artery. After six months of follow-up, healing and bone consolidation have been achieved. The interest of this exceptional technique is considered with respect to therapeutic choices for lower limb repair.