Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Managing wounds of the lateral malleolus is challenging owing to limited nearby tissues and possibly injured or inadequate vessels for free flaps, especially in case of underlying infections. Moreover, free flaps require specialized skills and are not suitable for every patient. Therefore, identifying reliable local alternatives is crucial. This retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of the distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap in treating complex and infected soft-tissue defects of the lateral malleolus.
METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review of all patients who underwent a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap reconstruction in the context of an infected lateral malleolus defect at Geneva University Hospitals between October 2020 and January 2024 was performed.
RESULTS: Ten patients underwent lateral malleolus reconstruction using a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap primarily to address post-traumatic infections. Flap coverage was performed within 4 weeks of infection onset for post-traumatic cases, alongside antibiotic treatment. The defects were moderate in size, with a median width of 2.5 cm and length of 5.5 cm. There were no complete or partial flap failures. All patients regained the ability to walk within 5 days after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: The distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap was efficient in managing complex and infected soft-tissue defects of the lateral malleolus, with control of infection in all patients and minimal donor-site morbidity.
METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review of all patients who underwent a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap reconstruction in the context of an infected lateral malleolus defect at Geneva University Hospitals between October 2020 and January 2024 was performed.
RESULTS: Ten patients underwent lateral malleolus reconstruction using a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap primarily to address post-traumatic infections. Flap coverage was performed within 4 weeks of infection onset for post-traumatic cases, alongside antibiotic treatment. The defects were moderate in size, with a median width of 2.5 cm and length of 5.5 cm. There were no complete or partial flap failures. All patients regained the ability to walk within 5 days after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: The distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap was efficient in managing complex and infected soft-tissue defects of the lateral malleolus, with control of infection in all patients and minimal donor-site morbidity.
摘要：
背景：由于附近组织有限，游离皮瓣的血管可能受伤或不足，因此处理外踝伤口具有挑战性。尤其是在潜在感染的情况下。此外，自由皮瓣需要专门的技能，并不适合每个病人。因此,确定可靠的当地替代品至关重要。这项回顾性研究调查了远端腓骨短肌皮瓣治疗复杂和感染的外踝软组织缺损的有效性和安全性。
方法：对2020年10月至2024年1月在日内瓦大学医院感染外踝缺损的情况下接受远端腓骨短肌皮瓣重建的所有患者进行了回顾性医学检查。
结果：10例患者使用远端腓骨短肌皮瓣进行外踝重建术，主要用于治疗创伤后感染。对于创伤后病例，在感染发作后4周内进行皮瓣覆盖，抗生素治疗。缺陷大小适中，中位数宽度为2.5厘米，长度为5.5厘米。没有完全或部分襟翼故障。所有患者在术后5天内恢复行走能力。
结论：远端腓骨短肌皮瓣在处理复杂和感染的外踝软组织缺损方面是有效的，控制所有患者的感染，并将供体部位的发病率降至最低。
方法：对2020年10月至2024年1月在日内瓦大学医院感染外踝缺损的情况下接受远端腓骨短肌皮瓣重建的所有患者进行了回顾性医学检查。
结果：10例患者使用远端腓骨短肌皮瓣进行外踝重建术，主要用于治疗创伤后感染。对于创伤后病例，在感染发作后4周内进行皮瓣覆盖，抗生素治疗。缺陷大小适中，中位数宽度为2.5厘米，长度为5.5厘米。没有完全或部分襟翼故障。所有患者在术后5天内恢复行走能力。
结论：远端腓骨短肌皮瓣在处理复杂和感染的外踝软组织缺损方面是有效的，控制所有患者的感染，并将供体部位的发病率降至最低。
