THE USE OF CROSS-LEG FREE MUSCLE FLAPS IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF LOWER-EXTREMITY INJURIES

The cover of soft tissue and bone defects of the distal one-third of t he leg resulting from crush injuries is a challenging problem. In such injuries healthy recipient vessels for free tissue transfer are frequ ently unavailable. Three cases of gunshot wounds and a mine explosion were managed successfully with cross-leg free muscle flaps, two latiss imus dorsi and one rectus abdominis. The disadvantages of this techniq ue are patient discomfort due to immobilization between the main and t he flap division procedures together with the long hospital stay.