Outcome comparison of sural neurofasciocutaneous flap for reconstructing soft tissue defects in forefoot and around ankle.
10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2022.211227
- Author:
Lihong LIU
1
;
Shibin TAO
2
;
Zhonggen DONG
2
;
Jianwei WEI
2
;
Zhaobiao LUO
2
;
Yu DAI
3
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011. drliulh@csu.edu.cn.
2. Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
3. Department of Orthopedics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China. csdaiyu@csu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
perforator flap;
peroneal artery;
sural nerve;
surgical flap
- MeSH:
Ankle/surgery*;
Humans;
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures;
Reproducibility of Results;
Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery*;
Surgical Flaps
- From:
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences)
2022;47(1):79-85
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To summarize our experience with the sural neurofasciocutaneous flap for reconstructing the soft tissue defects over the forefoot distal to the connecting line of midpoints in the metatarsal bones, and to compare the outcomes between the flap for resurfacing the defects distal and proximal to the connecting line.
METHODS:The clinical data of 425 sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps for repairing the soft tissue defects in the middle and lower leg, ankle, and foot between Apr. 2002 and Apr. 2020 were reviewed. Based on the connecting line of midpoints of the metatarsals, the sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps were divided into a forefoot group (flaps with furthest edges distal to the connecting line) and a peri-ankle group (flaps with the furthest edges proximal to the connecting line).
RESULTS:The partial necrosis rate in the forefoot group (14.5%, 10/69) was significantly higher than that in the peri-ankle group (7.0%, 25/356), with significant difference (P<0.05). Using the flap alone or in combination with a simple salvage treatment, the ratio of successful coverages of the defects was 98.6% (68/69) in the forefoot group, and 97.8% (348/356) in the peri-ankle group, respectively, with no statistical difference (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:The sural neurofasciocutaneous flap is a better choice for covering the soft tissue defects over the forefoot distal to the connecting line of midpoints of the metatarsal bones. The survival reliability of the sural neurofasciocutaneous flap reconstructing the soft tissue defect proximal to the connecting line is superior to that of the flap reconstructing the defect distal to the connecting line.
