title: Case series of sural island flaps used for soft-tissue defects of the distal-third lower extremity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the sural island fasciocutaneous flap as an initial consideration for distal third lower-extremity soft tissue coverage and to provide non-plastic surgeons with a procedure they can perform on their own.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature on reverse sural island fasciocutaneous flaps was reviewed and summarised. We then assessed our care series of sural island flaps from 2008-2011 and looked to provide our operative technique and patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients, aged 12-70 years old, with greater than 1 year follow-up, were reviewed. Five patients had diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or smoked tobacco. All patients healed their soft tissue coverage with minimal complication and were able to accommodate normal footwear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reverse sural island flaps are resilient flaps that should be considered as an alternative to free muscle transfer, for distal third lower extremity coverage.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA. robert.steffner@uchospitals.edu
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Steffner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spiguel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult