title: Muscle flaps in osteomyelitis of the lower extremity: a 20-year account.
abstract: Between 1977 and 1993, 64 patients had local muscle flap transposition as an integral portion of treatment for lower-extremity osteomyelitis. All muscle flaps were performed by a single surgeon. There were 54 men and 10 women with an average age of 45 years (range, 16 to 87 years). Median follow-up period was 9.3 years (range, 5 to 21 years). The muscles used included medial gastrocnemius (n = 28), soleus (n = 19), lateral gastrocnemius (n = 13), and peroneus tertius (n = 1). At final follow-up, the recurrence free rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 94, 92.5, and 86 percent, respectively. These long-term results support the use of local muscle flap transposition as an important management method in the treatment of lower extremity osteomyelitis; however, the risk of treatment failure may arise after extended periods of time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yugueros
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hanssen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007867:Leg Bones; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome