CLOSURE OF AN ISCHIAL PRESSURE SORE USING A FREE GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCULOCUTANEOUS FLAP WITH A LONG VENOUS PEDICLE

The recurrent pressure sore in an active paraplegic can become a frust rating challenge as available simple flap options become depleted, The medial gastrocnemius musculocotaneous free flap is an alternative tha t offers the benefits of muscle from an expendable donor site and stil l preserves the remainder of the donor limb for future use, Inclusion of an intact greater saphenous vein could augment venous drainage and potentially might be the sole means of outflow if veins at the recipie nt site were inadequate. This case report describes the closure of a r ecurrent ischial pressure sore with a free medial gastrocnemius flap, including a greater saphenous vein pedicle.