[Repairing soft tissue defect coverage in lower leg with a bridge shaped medial hemisleus muscle flap transplantation].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To summarize clinical application results of repairing soft tissue defect in lower leg with a bridge shaped medial hemisleus muscle flap pedicle transplantation. METHODS: From January 2008 to January 2012,12 patients with soft-tissue defect in lower leg underwent reconstruction with a bridge shaped medial hemisleus muscle flap pedicle transplantation. There were 8 males and 4 females with an average age of 34 years old ranging from 22 to 50 years old. Time after injury was from 2 to 12 weeks (means, 3.5 weeks ). The immediate coverage of the muscle flaps were performed by a meshed split-thickness skin graft. The donor site was closed directly. RESULTS: All the muscle flaps had survived completely. Follow-up period ranged form 1.8 to 4.0 years (means, 2.8 years) postoperatively. The tibia and fibula fractures were confirmed healing. A good contour was confirmed at the recipient area. The results were evaluated with LEM questionnaire, excellent results were obtained in 6 cases, good in 5 cases and fair in 1 case. Satisfactory clinical results were obtained in 11 cases. CONCLUSION: This technique is particularly useful for repairing soft tissue defect in the injured leg when only one vessel remains, and can reduce injury to donor site.