title: Clinical study of reconstructing the medial malleolus with free grafting of fibular head composite tendon bone flap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore new surgical procedure for repairing and reconstructing medial malleolus and soft tissue defect.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to the size of medial malleolus and composite soft tissue defect, vascular fibular head composite tendon bone flap free grafting using anterior tibial recurrent vessel as the perforating branch was designed to reconstruct the medial malleolar saddle and triangular ligament, and composite back broadest muscle flap free grafting was designed to repair the medical malleolar wound surface. From January 2000 to December 2006, the technique was used in 5 male patients who were injured by machine or in traffic accidents, causing bone and soft tissue defect. The size of wound surface ranged from 19 cm x 12 cm to 24 cm x 12 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The wound surface was healed at the first stage in 4 cases, and the other case had infection and was cured in 6 months with anti infection therapy. Postoperative follow-ups from 6 months to 6 years showed that grafted bones and free cutaneous flaps were healed well, malleolar joints were stable, joint movement was normal, and the appearance was satisfactory. The overall outcome was good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fibular head composite tendon bone flap free grafting is effective for repairing medical malleolar defect.
authors.affiliation: Microsurgery Center, The 98th Hospital of PLA, Huzhou 313000, China. doctorwsp@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Shui-pei
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome