ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate simple and practical methods to repair deep wounds in the foot near the ankle joint.Methods 128cases of deep wounds near ankle jo int with exposed bone and tendons fro mJan 1990to Jan 2002were reviewed .Altogether 13types of microsurgical flaps were applied in these cases and obtained satisfactory results.Timing of sur gery:53cases of primary repair,28c ases of secondary repair,47cases of delayed repair.Results26cases of reverse skin avultion were repaired by venous anastomosis in a valsed flaps,of which19survived completely,and 7underg one partial necrosis.There were 19f ree tissue flap grafts in which 13sur vived,3failed and 3undergone partial necrosis and infection.All pedicle tissue flap grafts amounted to 83cases wi th only3partial necrosis in 58cases of sura l nerve flaps graft,and 1total necro sis in 25other types of flap grafts.Con-clusion Sural nerve flaps graft is a reliable method to repair deep wounds with exp osed bone and tendons near the ankle joint.It is easy to perform with excellent abrasion resistance and little effect on the donor limb.