Sural Artery Flap

비복동맥 피판술

Purpose : Our clinical experiences in distally based sural artery island flap is presented to show the usefulness and the reliability as an alternative to flaps currently used for defect in lower extremity. Materials and Methods : From February 1998 to September 2001, nine cases of soft tissue defects in the lower leg, the foot, and around the ankle were treated with distally based sural artery island flap. The cause of the wound was trauma in 6 cases, and osteomyelitis in 3 cases. Defects were located at the lower leg in 2 cases, at the foot in 3 cases and around the ankle in 4 cases. The results were retrospectively analyzed. Results : The defect size ranged from $3{\times}3cm\;to\;20{\times}3cm$. Among 9 cases, 7 cases survived and 2 cases were failed. Flap failure was due to not including the deep fascia in one case and due to extensive soft tissue damage in the other case. Both failed cases were reoperated with the split thickness skin graft. Conclusion : The advantages of distally based sural artery island flap follows (1) reliable blood supply, (2) ease of flap elevation, (3) preservation of the major arteries, (4) less donor site morbidity. Owing to the advantages of this flap, we think it is useful for the soft tissue coverage of the lower leg, the foot and around the ankle. Also we believe it will continue to gain acceptance and use in the majority of lower leg reconstruction.