ROLE OF CROSS LEG FLAPS IN LEG AND FOOT RECONSTRUCTION: OUR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Introduction: The management of compound trauma has always been challenging. Free aps are the rst choice when soft tissue cover cannot be provided by local aps. When facilities for microsurgery are not available or certain factors preclude the microsurgical anastomosis or in cases of free ap failure, the cross leg aps have a big role to play in lower limb reconstruction. We are presenting our retrospective study on 30 cases of distal leg and foot defects covered successfully by cross leg aps. The aim of this study is to highlight the usefulness of cross legAims and objectives: aps in lower limb reconstruction. A retrospective study was done on 30 patients from January 2015 toMaterial and methods: December 2021 who underwent perforator based fasciocutaneous cross leg ap for post traumatic soft tissue defects of distal leg and foot. The mechanism of injury, size and site of defect were recorded. All aps were planned in reverse and limbs were immobilised with external xator. Post-operative complications if any were noted. The patients were followed till the ap became stable. The mechanism of injury was road side accident in 26 cases, machine injury in 2 cases and fall fromResults: height in 2 cases. 19 patients had soft tissue defect of distal 1/3rd of leg and 11 patients had foot defects. 26(86.67%) patients underwent distally based fasciocutaneous cross leg ap and 4(13.33%) patients underwent conventional anteromedially based fasciocutaneous ap. All aps survived well. 2 patients had discharge and 1 had margin necrosis but were managed conservatively. The perforators based fasciocutaneous cross leg aps provide an easy, simple, reliable and viableConclusion: cover for distal leg and foot reconstruction.