Distally-based sural neurocutaneous flap for repair of a defect in the ankle tissue

The Achilles tendon and the bones around the foot and ankle are often exposed after trauma and infection because of the thinness of the soft tissue. Many surgeons consider the distally-based neurocutaneous flap as the first choice for reconstructing soft tissue defects around the ankle, as it provides robust axial perfusion for flaps and is easier to transpose than random pattern local flaps or free flaps. We report here a series of 23 cases of reconstruction of the foot and ankle using a distally-based sural neurocutaneous flap. This flap, which measured from 5 x 4 cm(2) to 15 x 10 cm(2), was transferred to cover defects in the soft tissues of the foot and ankle. The short saphenous veins were ligated in 12 cases and retained in the remaining 11 cases. All flaps survived, but two cases with retained short saphenous veins developed venous congestion, including one that progressed to distal necrosis. In conclusion, the distally-based sural neurocutaneous vascular flap provides a valuable tool for the repair of defects in tissues around the ankle.