Abstract

MATERNO PARRA, Yuri; TABARES SAEZ, Horacio; MORALES SEIFE, Roberto  and  TABARES NEYRA, Horacio Inocencio. Pedicle gastrocnemius muscle flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the upper tibia. Rev Cubana Ortop Traumatol [online]. 2022, vol.36, n.4  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 1561-3100.

Flap surgery has changed trauma prognosis in Orthopedics. This study shows the use of the gastrocnemius muscle as a pedicled flap for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the upper third of the tibia. Seven patients underwent reconstruction and received a split-thickness skin graft to cover the muscle. The transferred flaps survived without vascular compromise, defect coverage was satisfactory, and the wound had good primary healing. No recurrence of osteomyelitis was found. The donor sites healed without functional disability. Follow-up revealed optimal aesthetic results. Gastrocnemius muscle transfer is a useful technique for covering soft tissue defects in the upper tibia, reliable for coverage of exposed bone, cavity filling, and treatment of bone infections.

Keywords : flap surgery; gastrocnemius muscle.

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