Objective To investigate the method and clinical effect of free iliac flap grafting in repairing the tibia traumatic osteomyelitis complicated withboneskin defect. Methods From June 2001 to February 2006，28 patients with tibia traumatic osteomyelitis complicated with boneskin defect were treated with free iliac flap grafting at stageⅠ. There were 18 males and 10 females, with an average of 32.5 years(1868 years). There were traffic injury in 11 cases, bruise in 6 cases, explosive injury in 5 cases, machinery injury in 4 cases, and falling injury in 2 cases. The disease courses of patients were 1-6 months. All patients had been treated by 26 operations. The wounds located at the mid and upper tibia in 13 cases, and the inferior tibia in 15 cases. The length of free iliac was0.5-6.0 cm and the size of the flap ranged from 4.5 cm×3.5 cm to 28.0 cm×16.0 cm.The external fixation were applied in 18 cases, and steel plate were applied in 10 cases. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results All of the flaps survived completely. The wounds healed by first intention in 26 cases and by second intention in 2 cases. The donorsites healed by first intention. Twentyeight patients were followed up for 6 to 56 months(mean, 30 months).The appearances of the flaps were satisfactory and the colour was similar to recipient site. All grafted bone united 2-14 months (mean，4.6 months) after operation according to X-ray examination. In 20 patients who did not achieved union before operation, fracture healed 2 to 6 months after operation(mean, 3.2 months). Osteomyelitis recurred 12 months after operation in 2 cases and healed by nidus clearing. Conclusion Free iliac flap which used to repair tibia traumatic osteomyelitis complicated with boneskin defect, can repair the defect at stageⅠand enhance the antiinfectious ability. It isone of appropriate and effective clinical methods.
ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical methods and effectiveness to use the iliac flap combined with anterolateral thigh flap for repair of the first metatarsal bone and large skin defect. MethodsBetween January 2013 and January 2016, iliac flap combined with anterolateral thigh flap was used to repair the first metatarsal bone and large skin defect in 9 patients. There were 5 males and 4 females, with a median age of 15 years (range, 10 to 60 years). The causes included traffic accident injury in 6 cases and crush injury of machine in 3 cases. The average time from injury to operation was 3 hours to 14 days (mean, 7 days). The size of skin soft tissue defect ranged from 10 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×10 cm. The size of first metatarsal bone defect ranged from 2 cm×1 cm to 5 cm×1 cm. The size of iliac flap was 3.0 cm×1.5 cm to 6.0 cm×1.5 cm, and the size of anterolateral thigh flap was 10 cm×6 cm to 20 cm×10 cm. The donor site was directly sutured or repaired by free skin graft. ResultsAfter operation, the composite flaps survived with primary healing of wound; the skin grafts at donor site survived and the incision healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6 months to 2 years (mean, 1.6 years). X-ray examination showed that the bone healing time was 3.5-5.0 months (mean, 4 months). The flap had soft texture, good color and appearance. All patients could normally walk. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) standard, the foot function was excellent in 6 cases and good in 3 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 100% at last follow-up. ConclusionThe iliac flap combined with anterolateral thigh flap for repair of the first metatarsal bone and large skin defect is a practical way with good shape at one stage.