Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND :
Soft tissue war injuries affecting the lower half of the leg are a major challenge facing plastic
surgeons .Distally based fasciocutaneous flaps have an important role in the management of these
defects.
OBJECTIVE :
To demonstrate the role of distally based fasciocutaneous flaps as an alternative to free tissue transfer
in the management of lower leg soft tissue defects.
METHODS :
Thirty seven war injury patients with soft tissue loss in the lower half of the leg were managed by
distally based septocutaneous flaps (19 cases),and distally based superficial sural artery flap (18
cases) , donor areas were closed by partial thickness skin grafts in all of the cases.
RESULTS :
All of the 37 flaps survived and healed uneventfully except in 4 cases in whom partial necrosis of the
flap occurred at the tip. Two cases of distally based superficial sural artery island flaps developed
venous congestion and edema .
CONCLUSION :
Distally based fasciocutaneous flaps are an important alternative to microvascular tissue transfer in
treating lower leg war injuries. The versatility and arc of rotation of the distally based superficial
sural artery flap were better than in distally based septocutaneous flaps.