Extended reverse sural artery pedicle flap: a versatile and reproducible option for coverage of ankle and foot defects

Background: Coverage of soft tissue defects around distal third of the leg, particularly ankle and foot is a common situation faced by a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Options available for such defects are limited due to scarcity of additional soft tissue that can be used without exposing tendons or bone. Associated conditions such as major vascular compromise, comorbidities and lack of facilities or expertise make free tissue transfer less preferred. Distally based sural artery flap has been a frequently used flap in such conditions, easy to perform and has reproducible results. We extended the reach of the flap and reproduced the results.Methods: We performed extended reverse sural artery pedicled flaps in 19 patients who presented to us between 2015 to 2017 with soft tissue defects around ankle and foot. Patients included 15 post RTA, 2 diabetic foot, 1 post resection defect and 1 post burn contracture release defect. Size of the defect ranged between 8x6cm to 14x10cm. Average follow up period was ranging from 8 months to 2.5 years.Results: All the flaps healed well without any obvious complications except one patient in whom marginal necrosis (2 cm margin of distal most flap) was observed and was secondarily treated with skin grafting.Conclusions: We observed that extended reverse sural pedicle flap is a rapid, reliable option for coverage of soft tissue defects around ankle and heel, sparing major vessel compromise and lengthy surgical procedure during free tissue transfer. This flap should be the first option for the patients with trauma and defects over weight bearing foot in whom peroneal axis vessels are preserved.

Distally Based Superficial Sural Artery Flap For Coverage of Lower Third Leg Defects.

Soft tissue defects in distal third of leg impose a challenge to reconstructive surgeon .The distally based sural neurocutaneous flap based on sural nerve and superficial sural artery has been used for reconstruction of distal third of leg, tendoachilles and heel,medial malleolus and hind foot.We describe our experience and evaluate the reliability of this flap.12 patients with age range from 20-62 years underwent distally based superficial sural artery flap for coverage of defects of distal third of leg, tendoachilles and heel,medial malleolus over a period of two years. All the flaps survived,one flap showed venous congestion but was managed conservatively.The main advantage of the flap is constant and reliable blood supply without sacrifice of major artery.The flap may be raised as islanded or pedicled flap.

Sural Artery Flap for the Treatment of Soft Tissue Defects around Knee Joint

PURPOSE: This report presents the authors' experience of twelve patients with sural artery flap for soft tissue defects around the knee joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients' age ranged from 25 to 80 years; seven of the patients were male and five were female. The cause of soft-tissue defects involved wide excision for malignant soft tissue tumor, tumor prosthesis related infection, infection after total knee arthroplasty and chronic osteomyelitis. Postoperative range of motion was checked. The sensibility of flap was evaluated by Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and two-point discrimination. RESULTS: All flaps survived and provided satisfactory coverage of the defect. There was no complication except one delayed skin graft incorporation at donor site. Seven knee joints which had been stiff previously gained average 58 degrees of ROM postoperatively. All flaps retained sensibility and showed no significant increase in sensory thresholds comparing with contralateral side. CONCLUSION: Sural artery flap not only shows high survival rate and broad coverage ability, but also offers improvement in range of motion and preservation of sensation. We speculate that sural artery flap is valuable for the reconstruction of the soft tissue defects around knee joint.

Reverse Superficial Sural artery flap for the Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defect on Posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon

PURPOSE: Soft tissue defect on posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon is vulnerable and require thin flap to improve aesthetic and functional results. Reverse superficial sural artery flap is simple and fast procedure, and it can preserves major arteries, supplies reliable constant blood, causes less donor site complication. Authors reviewed our cases and report the clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine cases of soft tissue defects on the posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon were treated with distally based superficial sural artery flap. There were 6 male and 3 female and mean age was 48.4 years. The size of flap was from 4x4 cm to 10x15 cm and mean follow-up period was 23 months. Flap survival, postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: All flaps were survived completely without necrosis. There was one case of partial wound dehiscence that needed debridement and repair, and other one case had recurrent discharge that was healed after removal of calcaneal plate. All patient showed acceptable range of ankle motion. CONCLUSION: Authors suggest that the reverse superficial sural artery flap could be one of the useful treatment options for the soft tissue defect on posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon.

Sural Artery Flap for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis of the Lower Leg / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: We report our experiences with a sural artery flap for the treatment of soft tissue defects in the lower leg with osteomyelitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1998 to December 2004, 35 patients underwent sural artery flap surgery for soft tissue coverage in the lower leg. Among them, 13 cases also had osteomyelitis. The defects were located at the proximal 1/3 of the lower leg in 2 cases, middle 1/3 in 2 cases, and around the ankle in 9 cases. A distally based sural artery flap was performed in 11 cases, and 2 cases were treated with a proximally based sural artery flap. RESULTS: The size of the defects ranged from 3x3 cm to 15x10 cm. Two cases showed marginal superficial necrosis that required debridement and secondary closure. After an average follow-up period of 33 months, the osteomyelitis was cured in all cases without recurrence. CONCLUSION: A sural arteriolized flap is useful for the treatment of osteomyelitis in the lower leg accompanied by a soft tissue defect.

The Effects of Modified Design of the Reverse Superficial Sural Artery Flap / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To access the efficacy of a modified design of a reverse superficial sural artery flap (RSSAF) to decrease the level of venous congestion and flap necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four cases of RSSAF were performed. The mean age of the patients was 47 years and the mean follow up period was 21 months. The average size of the flap was 7.4x5.2 cm. There were 19 cases of the modified flap design and 5 cases of non-modified design. The venous congestion and complications were analyzed according to the modification of the flap design. RESULTS: The flap survived in 23 cases. Primary closure of the donor site was performed in 11 cases whose flap width was <5 cm, and 12 cases required a skin graft. Venous congestion was observed in 5 cases including 4 cases, who were not treated with the modified design and 1 case with arterosclerosis obliterans preoperatively. Partial flap necrosis occurred in 2 flaps that did not have the modified design. CONCLUSION: The modified RSSAF with a skin extension over the pedicle to decrease the tension of the tunnel is an effective procedure for reconstructing the lower extremity, which can prevent venous congestion and improve the survival rate of the flap.

Reconstruction of the Soft Tissue Defect of the Lower Leg by Distally Based Superficial Sural Artery Fasciocutaneous Island Flap Using Supercharged Vein

PURPOSE: Distally based superficial sural artery island flap has some disadvantages such as postoperative flap edema, congestion, and partial necrosis of the flap margin. Venous congestion is an area of considerable concern in distally based superficial sural artery fasciocutaneous flap and is one of the main reasons for failure, particularly when a large flap is needed. However, we could decrease these disadvantages by means of venous superdrainage. METHODS: From June of 2006 to June of 2007, a total of two patients with soft tissue defects of lower one third of the leg underwent venous supercharging distally based superficial sural artery island flap transfer. The distal pivot point of this flap was designed at septocutaneous perforator from the peroneal artery of the posterolateral septum, which was 5cm above the tip of the lateral malleolus. Briefly, this technique is performed by anastomosing the proximal end of the lesser saphenous vein and collateral vein to any vein in the area of the recipient defect site. RESULTS: No venous congestion was noted in any of the two cases. No other recipient or donor-site complications were observed, except for minor wound dehiscence in one case. In 3 to 6 months follow-up, patients had minor complaints about lack of sensation in the lateral dorsal foot. CONCLUSION: The peroneal artery perforator is predictable and reliable for the design of a distally based superficial sural artery island flap. Elevation of the venous supercharging flap is safe, easy, and less time consuming. In conclusion, the venous supercharging distally based superficial sural artery island flap offers an alterative to free tissue transfer for reconstruction of the lower extremity.

Sural Artery Flap for Skin Defect of Lower Legs

PURPOSE: We reconstructed the skin defect of lower legs exposing muscles, tendons and bone with fasciocutaneous sural artery flap and report our cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2005 and September 2006, 8 cases of skin defect were reconstructed with fasciocutaneous sural artery flap. Defect site were 4 case of ankle and foot and 4 cases of lower leg. The average defect size was 4x4 cm2. There were 5 men and 3 women and mean age was 52.2 years. We evaluated the viability of flap, postoperative complication, healing time, patient's satisfaction. RESULTS: There was no flap failure in 8 cases. But recurrent discharge in 2 cases was healed through several times adequate debridement and delayed suture without complication. Flap edema may be due to venous congestion was healed through leg elevation and use of low molecular weight heparin. Mean time to heal the skin defect was 4 weeks. No infection and recurrence in follow up period. Cosmetic results as judged by patients were that 5 cases are good and 3 cases are fair. CONCLUSION: Sural artery flap is good treatment method among the numerous methods in the cases of skin defect, with soft tissue exposed, which is not covered with debridment and skin graft. Sural artery flap is useful method for the skin defect of lower legs because it is simple procedure, has constant blood supply and relatively good cosmetic effect.

The Reverse Sural Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Defect of Foot and Ankle in Diabetic Patient / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: A reverse sural artery flap is a useful method for the soft tissue coverage of the lower leg, around the foot and ankle. We present our experience with the reverse sural artery flap for the coverage of a soft tissue defect due to ulceration, necrosis, and trauma in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 5 diabetic patients who showed soft tissue defects around their lower leg, foot and ankle. The causes of the soft tissue defect were an ulcer and infection in 4 cases, and trauma in 1 case. The sites of the soft tissue defect were around the ankle in 2 cases. In the other cases, the defect site were the lower third of the leg, the hind foot, the foot dorsum. The mean follow up period was 12.4 months. The size of the soft tissue defect ranged from 4 x 3 cm to 15 x 10 cm. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. The donor site was covered with a split thickness skin graft. There was no recurrence of the soft tissue defect during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The reverse sural artery flap is a valuable method for covering certain types soft tissue defect of foot and ankle in diabetic patients.

Reconstruction of the Soft Tissue Defect of the Lower Leg by Distally Based Superficial Sural Artery Flap Using the Endoscope

A soft-tissue defect of lower one third of the leg presents a challenging problem because of the tightness and poor circulation of the skin. Various forms of coverage, including muscle flaps, facial flaps, septocutaneous flaps, axial flaps, and free flaps, have their own specific indications and inherent disadvantages. The distally based superficial sural artery flap, first described as a distally based neuroskin flap by Masquelet et al., is a skin island flap supplied by the vascular axis of the sural nerve. Up to now, distally based superficial sural artery flap has some disadvantages such as postoperative flap edema, congestion, partial necrosis of the flap margin and unfavorable scar. However, we could decrease these disadvantages by means of endoscopy. When subcutaneous fascial pedicle dissected includes sural nerve, superficial sural artery and small saphenous vein, the endoscope offers the magnified view, and enables us to dissect them more easily and safely. We report 2 cases of endoscopic surgery with some references concerning the defect of soft tissue in distal area of lower extremity and ankle joint using distally based superficial sural artery flap without complication.

The Distally Based Superficial Sural Artery Flap / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The superficial sural artery flap is supplied by the superficial sural artery that accompanies the sural nerve. The superficial sural artery connects distally with a peroneal artery septocutaneous perforator via a suprafascial network of vessels that permits the flap to be raised on its distal pedicle. We treated 10 patients who showed soft tissue defect of the lower third of the leg, around the ankle and the hindfoot with this flap. The causes of the soft tissue defect were trauma in 6 cases, pressure sore in 2 cases, squamous cell carcinoma in 1 case and osteomyelitis in 1 case. The sites of the soft tissue defect were the lower third of the leg in 5 cases, around the ankle in 2 cases and the hindfoot in 3 cases. The size of the soft tissue defect was from 5x6 cm to 8xl2 cm. All 10 flaps survived. Two flaps showed slight venous congestion which cleared in a few days. The time for flap dissection was 15 minutes in average. The results of our cases show that the distally based superficial sural artery flap is useful for the soft tissue coverage of the lower third of the leg, around the ankle and the hindfoot. The advantages of the flap are that the blood supply is reliable, elevation is easy and quick, the major arteries are not sacrificed and the donor site morbidity is negligible.