title: Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the lower extremity using free flap transfer.
abstract: Between 1987 and 1995, 25 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the lower extremity were treated by transfer of muscle or musculocutaneous flap. The subsequent follow-up extended over more than three years. Five patients developed a recurrence. Two were reoperated on and healed completely; in two an amputation had to be performed; and in one the infection persists. Recurrence occurred mainly in patients in whom the bone cavity could not be filled completely with muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Third Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tvrdek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nejedlý
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kletenský
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kufa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing