POSTTRAUMATIC EXTREMITY RECONSTRUCTION WITH THE USE OF FREE VASTUS LATERALIS FLAP

A series of eight patients is presented to demonstrate the use of the free vastus lateralis flap with or without the skin component for reco nstruction of the extremities, over a period of 18 months. Six patient s had defects due to a road traffic accident, one had a neurotrophic u lcer, and one post-traumatic osteomyelitis. There was complete surviva l of the flap in six patients, the remaining two had partial loss, Thi s flap is very useful in extremity reconstruction due to its long vasc ular pedicle, availability of skin and muscle, ease in elevation and m inimal donor flap morbidity.