One-stage Reconstruction of Soft-tissue Defect including Achilles Tendon: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Open defect of the Achilles tendon with loss of overlying skin is very difficult to treat. This condition poses problems of combating infection, providing soft-tissue cover and bridging the gap in the tendon. This has been generally managed in multi-staged procedures. Once the infection is brought under control with debridement and antibiotics, skin cover is provided by the flap. The tendon itself is reconstructed later by a conventional technique. More recently, composite free-tissue transfers repairing the skin and tendon in a single stage have been reported. We describe a simple and very reliable one-stage procedure, using a lateral supramalleolar island flap, a fascia lata autograft and a peroneus brevis tendon transfer, which helps tendon units bridge the gap in the Achilles tendon, and thin and mobile skin to cover the defect in the skin. Our patient showed good result, so we report this case with a review of the literature.