ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the success [flap survival as a whole without necrosis or dehiscence up to two months as judged clinically] of distally based medial hemisoleus muscle flap for the coverage of distal tibial defects
Study Design: Case series
Place and Duration of Study: Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Centre, AIMC, Lahore, from July 2014 to July 2017
Methodology: Patients with middle and distal third tibial defects were enrolled and stratified according to the site of the wound in middle or distal third of tibia. Soft tissue coverage was provided with distally based medial hemisoleus muscle flap on which split thickness skin graft was applied. Postoperatively, patients were followed-up after one week of discharge and then fortnightly for at least 2 months. Outcome variable was taken as flap success
Results: Out of 37 cases, flap was successful in 33 patients as complete flap survived with primary wound healing. Partial flap necrosis without dehiscence was seen in 3 cases and partial necrosis of flap with dehiscence in only one case that required another surgery for the defect. Complete flap loss was not seen in any case
Conclusion: Distally based medial hemisoleus muscle flap is reliable coverage option for middle and distal third of tibial defects