• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.712-717
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• 1996

The term osteomyelitis literally means inflammation of bone marrow. It is described as an inflammatory condition of bone primarily engaging the medullary cavity extending to the periosteum. Following circulatory collapse and ischemia, the involved portions of the bone become necrotic. Cellulitis and osteomyelitis are the most frequent complications of fractures of the mandible and maxilla, because there is an abscessed tooth in the line of fracture. Since most fractures are compound fractures, infection may develop because of contact with oral secretions or outside air. The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis is still under debate. Some authors rely on antibiotics alone, while others advocate combination with surgery. But when infection occurs, establish proper drainage and administer antibiotics. Author treated a case of infected mandibular fracture with mandibular osteotomy, sequestrectomy, iliac bone graft and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, who had suffered suppurative osteomyelitis and mandibular nonunion following the open reduction of the mandibular fracture.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2001

Introduction : The goal in the management of soft tissue injuries of the lower extremity is to obtain a closed stable wound as soon as possible. Recently, An anatomic study that has shown the role of the vascular axis that follows the superficial sensory nerves in supplying the skin developed the concept of a neuroskin island flap. It has been suggested that skin island flaps supplied by the vascular network of the saphenous nerve is one of the most reliable treatment to skin defect below the knee joint. Purpose : The aim of this article is to present a clinical experience of neuroskin island flaps based on the saphenous nerve and to estimate the clinical utilities of distally based saphenous neuroskin flap. Materials and Methods : From September 1995 to May 2000, a total 12 distally based neuroskin island flaps supplied by the vascular axis of the saphenous nerve were performed to cover defects in pretibial area below the knee. Result : flap necrosis due to reactivation of existing infection developed in a case that skin defect had been on infected nonunion site of tibia. But other 11 cases survived completely without any specific complications. Conclusion : The distally based neuroskin pedicled island flap using the vascular network of the saphenous nerve are versatile and reliable and especially indicated for limited defects in pretibial area below the knee joint which are not good indications for other better-known flaps.