title: [Repair of defects in lower extremities with peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the operative technique and clinical results of using peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps to repair skin and soft tissue defects in lower extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009 to March 2012, 26 patients with skin and soft tissue defects at distal region of leg and foot were hospitalized. Among them, 9 patients suffered from tendon or bone exposure at the distal region of leg after injury due to traffic accident; 4 patients suffered from skin defects in the ankle as a result of electric injury; 8 patients suffered from chronic ulcer at the distal part of leg and foot; 5 patients suffered from plantar pressure ulcer. After debridement, soft tissue defect sizes ranged from 11 cm×5 cm to 18 cm×13 cm. According to the position and size of the defects, peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps were designed and procured to repair the skin and soft tissue defects. The size of flaps ranged from 12 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×15 cm. Flap donor sites were closed by direct suture or skin grafting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five flaps survived completely. Only one flap suffered partial margin necrosis in the size of 2 cm×1 cm, which was healed after dressing change. Patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months. The appearance and sensation of flaps were satisfactory; no ulcer occurred; the movement of lower extremities was normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suitable to repair the skin and soft tissue defects at distal region of leg and foot with the peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap, as it possesses reliable blood supply, long and non-bulky pedicle, and sufficient available size. The operation is also easy to perform.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Xian-cheng
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Bai-rong
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Li-chang
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Mi-te
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: A
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Ji-yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Yu-yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D055815:Young Adult