title: [Modified sural neurocutaneous vascular flap based on single dominant perforator arising from peroneal artery for coverage of defects over Achilles tendon].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the operative techniques and clinical results of specially designed sural neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled on a dominant perforator (the diameter > or = 0.8 mm) of the peroneal artery for coverage of soft tissue defects overlying the Achilles tendon.
  
  
  METHODS
  An approximately rectangular sural neurocutaneous vascular flap pedicled on the lowest dominant perforator arising from the peroneal artery was designed and harvested to repair defects over the Achilles tendon. The pedicle was located at a certain part of the flap, which divided the flap into the distal and the proximal parts. After the tendon was repaired, the flap was rotated 180 degrees based on the perforator and the position of the distal and proximal parts of the flap was changed to cover the defects and part of the donor site respectively. In most cases, skin graft was not needed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modified flaps were applied in 15 cases. All flaps (ranged from 13 cm x 15 cm - 18 cm x 9 cm ) were transplanted successfully without necrosis, and no vascular problems occurred. Following up for 10-17 months showed both satisfactory functional and cosmetic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified flap has reliable blood supply and the special design provides nearly normal outline of the ankle which favorites shoe wearing. It' s an excellent option for covering defects overlying the Achilles tendon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mao-Ming
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yuan-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yan-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000637:transplantation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000098:blood supply; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult