[Repair of the skin defect on the remote part of the lower limb with the distally-based sural nerve nutritional artery island flap].
OBJECTIVE
The study was to verify the existence of the nutritional artery accompanying the sural nerve and to design a distally based island skin flap nourished by this artery for repairing skin defects on the remote part of the lower limb.


METHODS
Anatomical study on 15 cadaver lower limbs and clinical applications in 7 cases were performed.


RESULTS
The sural nerve nutritional artery is plexiform, forming anastomoses with the vascular network in the superficial and deep fascia. All 7 skin flaps depending on this arterial supply survived in clinical practice.


CONCLUSIONS
This flap has high success rate. The operation is less traumatic and easy to perform. For the repair of the lower limb, it is a good option.
Ma
Y
Y
Department of Plastic Surgery, 3rd Hospital of Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083.
Wang
X
X
Li
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery