Posttraumatic Soft Tissue Coverage of the Lower Leg for the Orthopedic Surgeon

• Published in: The Orthopedic clinics of North America Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 297 - 310
• Main Authors: Blair, James A., Puneky, George A., Dickerson, Thomas E., Faith, Hayden D., Davis, Jana M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-07-2022
• Subjects: Gastrocnemius flap; Limb salvage; Rotational flap; Soleus flap; Sural flap; Limb salvage; Gastrocnemius flap; Rotational flap; Sural flap; Soleus flap
• ISSN: 0030-5898; 1558-1373
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocl.2022.03.002

Soft tissue reconstructive techniques are powerful tools for the orthopedic surgeon caring for lower extremity trauma. This article seeks to inform orthopedic surgeons about useful techniques for skin closure, secondary wound closure techniques, and rotational flaps of the lower leg. Split thickness skin grafting, piecrusting, and the use of negative pressure wound therapy for skin closure, as well as rotational gastrocnemius, soleus, and reverse sural artery flaps are discussed with emphasis on techniques for the nonvascular and nonmicrovascular orthopedic surgeon.