title: Versatility of the distally based superficial sural flap for reconstruction of lower leg and foot in children.
abstract: Twenty children are presented after undergoing a distally based superficial sural flap for coverage of defects at the lower leg and foot. The age of the patients was between 1 and 12 years. Fifteen patients had trauma to the lower leg, with eight of them having associated injuries. Three had postburn contracture and two had pressure sore. In 14 cases, the flap was used as a fasciocutaneous flap, whereas in six cases it was used as a fascial flap covered with a skin graft. The flaps were used to cover the defects from the dorsum of the foot distally up to the mid third of tibia proximally. The mean follow-up was for a period of 2 years. Even though free tissue transfer is reliable and safe for the reconstruction of major leg injuries in children, the distally based superficial sural flap has the advantage of being easy to perform, with short operating time, minimal donor side morbidity, and preservation of major arteries of the leg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain. rkgp@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jayakrishnan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koladi
authors.forename: Raj Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.forename: Abdul Aziz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Rameshwar L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajacic
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome