Lateral supramalleolar flap.

ABSTRACT

Soft tissue coverge of the heel and ankle area is one of the most difficult problems encountered in reconstruction particularly when the major arterial trees of the lower extremity are injured. Lateral supramalleolar flap, an axial pattern skin flap, based on the cutaneous branch of the perforating branch of the peroneal artery, can be effectively utilized as a mean of resolution. Sacrifice of the main arteries (anterior, posterior tibial artery, or peroneal artery) is avoided, which is the great advantage of this flap. Twelve patients, ages 8 to 55 years, underwent the operation employing this type of flap. Four cases of soft tissue lost on the foot, were covered with such flaps. The flap healed satisfactorily except for two cases, one had minor skin slough at the edge of the flap and the other one had necrosis of one had necrosis of one third of the flap, requiring subsequent debridement, but healing took spontaneously. The only one disadvantage of this flap is the donor site scar.