Objective To explore the application of the improved operative technique and clinical results of sural nerve nutritional vessel axial flap repairing the soft tissue defects of the lower leg,the ankle and the foot. Methods From January 1999 to Novenber 2004,the modified flaps were applied in 22 cases of soft tissue defect on the basis of anatomy of the intermusclar septum perforating branches of peroneal artery and the sural nerve nutritional vessel.There were 14 males and 8 females. Their ages ranged from 5 to 54 years.According to the position and size of the soft tissue defects, the sural nerve nutritional vessel flap pedicled with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery in the lower leg were desingned and obtained to repair the soft tissue defects of the lower leg,the ankle and the foot.The flap size ranged from 13cm×12cm to 30cm×20cm. The vessel pedicle of perforating branches ranged from 1.7cm to 3cm.The distribution of the vessel pedicle of perforating branches ranged from4.5cm to 8cm on the lateral malleolus.The diameters of vessel ranged from 1mm to 1.2mm. Results The flap pedicle with the terminal branch of the peroneal artery was used in 13 cases, the other branches were used in 9 cases. Among of 22 cases,the sural nerve were anastomosed with the acceptor sensory nerve in 4 cases. The skin sense were satisfactory after 1 year of operationnd 2-point discrimination was 10-13mm. All flaps survived completely in 22 cases. The outline andfunction were satisfactory during 6-18 months follow-up. Conclusion The blood supply of this flap is reliable. Flap elevation is easy. The size of flap is large enough to repair skin defects of the lower leg, the ankle and the foot.

Citation： WANG Kuaisheng,CHAI Yimin,QIU Xunyong,et al.. CLINICAL APPLICATION OF SURAL NERVE NUTRITIONAL VESSEL AXIAL FLAP PEDICLED WITH THE PERFORATING BRANCH OF THE PERONEAL ARTERY. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2005, 19(12): 998-1000. doi: Copy