PROXIMALLY BASED SUPERFICIAL SURAL ARTERY FLAP UTILITY AND COMPLICATION

Abstract

Background: Most of the patients presenting with such injuries belong to the low socio-economic class, where the whole family is dependent upon the earning of a one single person. Due to the critical role of knee in mobility, its coverage is of critical importance in order for the patient to achieve ambulation.

Objectives: To determine the uses and frequency of complications for proximally based superficial sural artery flaps in a tertiary care center.

Settings: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed at Burns & plastic surgery, Peshawar and Burns & Plastic Surgery, Peshawar from June 2020 to March 2024.

Methodology: Patients were included in the study after informed consent. After clinical history and examination, the patient was optimized for surgical procedure. Per-operatively the defect size, location and exposed structures were identified and documented. Follow-up was done for 1 month for any complications. The data was organized and analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in the form of tables and figures. 

Results: A total of 12 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 33.7 ± 15.2 years. Most of the patients (91.7%) were male. Most common mechanism of injury was road traffic accident (RTA) as shown in table 1. Flap delay was done in one (7.7%) patient. Two patients had partial necrosis.

Conclusion: Sural artery flap is a good reconstructive option for defects of distal thigh, knee and proximal leg. It can cover large defects and the donor site morbidity is low.