CROSS-LEG FREE MUSCLE FLAPS FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF OPEN FRACTURES OF THE TIBIA

In two patients in whom the injured leg was not suitable for reconstru ction using a routine free tissue transfer, a cross-leg free muscle fl ap was used, i.e. the vessels of a free muscle flap were anastomosed t o donor vessels on the uninjured leg and the muscle flap used to recon struct a defect on the opposite leg. Both operations were successful, with the transferred muscle becoming well vascularized from the recipi ent bed at the site of injury. In both cases, use of the uninjured leg to transfer the free flap caused minimal morbidity.