title: "Skin and bone": the use of muscle flaps to cover exposed bone.
abstract: In place of the multi-staged skin flap procedures often required to cover exposed bone in the lower leg, muscle flaps offer a bonus in that the repair can be completed in one operation and at the same time the blood supply to the unhealthy area is vastly improved. Elsewhere muscle flaps bestow the same advantages and in addition provide a cushioning layer between prominent bone and the skin in the repair of decubitus ulcers. As an extension of the muscle flap technique, myocutaneous flaps have proved a useful adjunct to conventional skin flaps in the repair of many complicated trunk and lower limb defects.
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D001842:Bone and Bones; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007512:Ischium / Q000601:surgery; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013524:Surgical Flaps