THE DISTALLY BASED SUPERFICIAL SURAL FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER LEG AND FOOT

We describe our experience with the use of distally based superficial sural flaps for coverage of defects in the lower leg and foot in 21 pa tients. In 18 patients the flap was successfully transferred, in 2 cas es partial necrosis of the flap occurred and 1 flap failed completely. In 18 cases the flap was used as a fasciocutaneous flap and in 3 case s as a fascial flap only. The advantages of this flap are: easy and qu ick dissection, hence saving operating time, minimal morbidity of dono r site and preservation of major arteries of the leg. Although the fla p was described as reliable for covering defects around the ankle join t, we have been able to cover defects of the dorsum of the foot distal ly and up to the mid-third of the tibia proximally.