title: Extensor digitorum brevis flap on the treatment of lower limb injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our pioneer national experience with 11 patients with soft tissue defects in the distal 1/3 of the leg, ankle and forefoot treated with extensor digitorum brevis muscle flap (EDB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between November 2009 and July 2012 11 patients were operated with the flap technique. We operated nine men and two women aged between 10 and 66 years. The surgical indications were acute trauma in four patients and post-traumatic osteomyelitis in seven patients. The small defects were covered ranging from 3x3 to 6x3 cm. The patch was applied with proximal stalk in most cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete healing and infectious cure were obtained in all cases, despite one loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EDB flap is a feasible and safe technique to repair foot, ankle and distal leg losses. Suffering, dehiscence and delayed healing of the EDB end flap donor area may, however, occur. L-shaped incisions should be avoided for muscle lifting. Level of Evidence IV, Case series.
authors.affiliation: USP, FM, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Ruiz
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: USP, FM, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscilla Messias
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paganelli
authors.affiliation: USP, FM, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan Pires Negrão
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: USP, FM, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter Hamilton de Castro
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Targa
authors.affiliation: USP, FM, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tulio Diniz
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: USP, FM, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rames
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattar
keywords: Osteomyelitis; Surgical flaps; Wounds and injuries