Fasciocutaneous flaps versus muscle flaps for treatment and coverage of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia

ABSTRACT

In this study, sixteen cases with tibial bone chronic osteomyelitis were operated upon by debridement and coverage using local muscle flap in eight cases while using fasciocutaneous flap in the other eight ones. The cases were followed up for one year. In each group, three cases were suffering from cortical osteomyelitis only. In the muscle flap group, seven cases [three cortical] healed primarily; while in one case, a persistent sinus was the end result. In the fasciocutaneous group, six cases [three cortical] healed primarily; while in the remaining two ones, the flap failed to eradicate the infection. This study proved the reported efficacy of muscle flap in treating chronic osteomyelitis cases and its superiority over fasciocutaneous flaps. It also pointed to the value of using fasciocutaneous flaps in cortical osteomyelitis with the same results [100%]