Repair soft tissue defect and infection at inferior segment of shank and foot with neurovascular sural flap

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of neurovascular sural flap in treatment of osteomyelitis or infection at the lower leg,ankle and foot with soft tissue defects and bone defects.Methods Twelve cases of soft-tissue defects and osteomyelitis of the lower leg and foot associated with or without bones defects were treated with neurovascular sural flap.Results Of all the 12 flaps,11 flaps survived at the first intention.Partial necrosis appeared in 1 flap but was cured at the second intention.The follow-ups of 5 to 54 months(mean 21 months) showed that the appearance and function were satisfactory in all cases.Conclusion To repair soft tissue defect at the lower shank,foot and ankle with osteomyelitis,the neruovascular sural flap is a satisfactory method.