DISTALLY BASED FASCIOCUTANEOUS SURAL FLAP FOR SOFT TISSUE COVERING OF AN OPEN NEGLECTED TIBIAL FRACTURE: CASE PRESENTATION

Abstract

Open fractures are orthopedic emergencies that require immediate surgical intervention in order to provide fracture stabilization and to prevent development of osteitis. We present the case of a 33-years-old patient presented in our clinic for a type IIIB neglected open fracture of the distal tibia. We used external fixation for fracture stabilization and a distal based fasciocutaneous sural flap for covering the wound. The purpose was to obtain union of the tibia and reducing the risk of infection. The results at 6 months are good, but the patient needs to be closely followed in time.

Keywords

• open tibial fracture
• soft tissue defect
• external fixation
• sural flap