[Repair of calcaneus and skin defects with allograft and sural neurovascular flap].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical results of allograft and sural neurovascular flap in repairing calcaneus and skin defects.


METHODS
From February 1996 to December 2002, allograft and sural neurovascular flap were used to repair calcaneus and skin defects in 6 cases. The causes included road accident in 3 cases, strangulation in 2 cases and crashing object in 1 case. The defect locations were at the back of the calcaneus (1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 of calcaneus in 3 cases, 2 cases and 1 case respectively). The flap area ranged from 6 cm x 7 cm to 12 cm x 17 cm.


RESULTS
The flaps survived completely in 4 cases; the distal flaps necrosed partly in 2 cases and the wound healed by dressing. The postoperative X-ray films showed that the repaired bone and joint had normal position and the arcus plantaris recovered. After a follow up of 6 months to 3 years all the patients were achieved bone union in allograft and had no complications of absorption, infection and repulsion. The weight-bearing and walking functions were restored and the injured foot obtained a satisfactory contour. After 3-6 months of operation, the sensory recovery of foot occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The used allograft is easy to be obtained and arcus plantaris is easy to recover. The reverse sural neurovascular flap in repairing calcaneus and skin defects has the following advantages: the maintenance of blood supply for injured foot, the less dangerous operation, the simple procedure, the recovery of walking function, and the good appearance and sensation.
Zhang
Yanfeng
Y
Department of Orthopedics, 15th Hospital of PLA, Wusu Xinjiang, 833000, PR China.
Wang
Jianrong
J
Wen
Boyuan
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous