Results of ankle and foot skin loss coverage with sural flap at regional hospital of Sokode

Abstract

Introduction: The objective was to report on the clinical and evolutionary aspects after coverage of post-traumatic skin loss of the foot and ankle with a sural flap at the Sokodé Regional Hospital.Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 17 patients aged > 15 years managed from July 1, 2019 to July 30, 2023, a period of 48 months in the Orthopaedics Department. These were open malleolar fracture in n = 09 cases and tibial pilon fracture n = 05 cases and open forefoot fracture in n = 03 cases. The sural flap was performed in all cases, as a cross leg flap in 02 cases. The parameters reported were operative time, clinical appearance at 03 weeks, at 03 months, flap weaning time, and appearance of the donor zone at 03 months.Results and Discussion: The average operating time after the first surgical trimming was 02 weeks. At 03 weeks post-operatively, good flap take-up was noted in n = 13 cases, and skin damage to the flap edges with partial necrosis in n = 04 cases. At 03 months, good flap integration was noted in all cases (n=17), with healing of the donor area. Flap weaning was effective in only n = 07 casesConclusion: The sural flap provides reliable coverage of ankle defects, avoiding osteoarthritis and amputation. This easily reproducible procedure should be mastered by every orthopedic surgeon.