OBJECTIVETo explore new surgical procedure for repairing and reconstructing medial malleolus and soft tissue defect.

METHODSAccording to the size of medial malleolus and composite soft tissue defect, vascular fibular head composite tendon bone flap free grafting using anterior tibial recurrent vessel as the perforating branch was designed to reconstruct the medial malleolar saddle and triangular ligament, and composite back broadest muscle flap free grafting was designed to repair the medical malleolar wound surface. From January 2000 to December 2006, the technique was used in 5 male patients who were injured by machine or in traffic accidents, causing bone and soft tissue defect. The size of wound surface ranged from 19 cm x 12 cm to 24 cm x 12 cm.

RESULTSThe wound surface was healed at the first stage in 4 cases, and the other case had infection and was cured in 6 months with anti infection therapy. Postoperative follow-ups from 6 months to 6 years showed that grafted bones and free cutaneous flaps were healed well, malleolar joints were stable, joint movement was normal, and the appearance was satisfactory. The overall outcome was good.

CONCLUSIONFibular head composite tendon bone flap free grafting is effective for repairing medical malleolar defect.