Case series of sural island flaps used for soft-tissue defects of the distal-third lower extremity.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the sural island fasciocutaneous flap as an initial consideration for distal third lower-extremity soft tissue coverage and to provide non-plastic surgeons with a procedure they can perform on their own.

METHOD: Literature on reverse sural island fasciocutaneous flaps was reviewed and summarised. We then assessed our care series of sural island flaps from 2008-2011 and looked to provide our operative technique and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

Nine patients, aged 12-70 years old, with greater than 1 year follow-up, were reviewed. Five patients had diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or smoked tobacco. All patients healed their soft tissue coverage with minimal complication and were able to accommodate normal footwear.

CONCLUSION

Reverse sural island flaps are resilient flaps that should be considered as an alternative to free muscle transfer, for distal third lower extremity coverage.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST: There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.