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 to reduce the risk of infection. The results at 6 months are good, but the patient needs to be closely followed in time.