ABSTRACT
Background: The treatment of exposed bone of the upper tibia with local gastrocnemius flaps enables satisfactory results in covering exposed structures, favouring local vascularization and improving the healing. It offers the advantage of treatment in only one stage surgical procedure, an earlier recovery and reduced hospital stay. The standard methods for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the upper third of the leg include gastrocnemius but sometimes the wound is as such that gastrocnemyocutanious is small for the wound and taking soleus for the rest of it is too much. Along with length gastrocnemyocutanious also adorable coverage.To evaluate the outcome of coverage of exposed upper tibia by a medial gastrocnemyocutanious flap. Material & Methods:This Quasi-experimental study is to be carried out in the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, Sher-E Bangla Nagar, Dhaka from July 2016 to June 2018. Detailed information was obtained in each case according to protocol. A complete history was taken either from the patient or accompanying attendants. A thorough clinical examination was done. Relevant investigation reports were collected. All the information was recorded in the data collection sheet. Collected data were classified, edited, coded and entered into the computer for statistical analysis by using SPSS-23. Results:The mean age was found 35.6113.2 years. The male-female ratio was 9:1. All (100.0%) patients were found with a proximal injury. The majority (75.0 %) of patients were found with a right leg injury and 5(25.0%) with a left leg injury. The majority (90.0 %) of patients were found complete survival, 1(5.0%) was partial necrosis and 1(5.0%) was marginal. necrosis. The mean duration of operation was found 125.0130.0 minutes with a range from 90 to 150 minutes. Two (10.0%) patients had flap infection, 2(10.0%) had recipient site infection, 1(5.0%) had donor site infection, 1(5.0%) had wound discharge and 1(5.0%) had superficial epidermolysis. Majority (85.0%) patients had excellent or good, 2(10.0%) had regular and 1(5.0%) had unsatisfactory.Conclusions:Gastromyocutaneous flap is still one of the best commodities to cover problem wounds in the upper leg, favouring the local blood supply and the improvement of the initial injury. Even in extensive complicated trauma, it is useable. Its harvest does not involve a sacrifice of major blood vessels and has no or little effect on gait.