[Repair of the soft tissue defects of the anterior foot and the ankle with the reversed sural neurocutaneous flap].

Objective: To investigate the operative method and effect of the reversed sural neurocutaneous flap in repairing soft tissue defects of the anterior foot and the ankle.

Methods: From March 1999 to November 2004, 19 cases (17 male, 2 female) of soft tissue defects of the anterior foot and the ankle were repaired with the reversed sural neurocutaneous flaps. The flap sizes range from 18 cm x 9 cm to 30 cm x 18 cm.

Results: All flaps survived well, while 1 flap had distal partial necrosis and healed after dressing change. The follow-up from 6 months to 2 years showed that all flaps were satisfactory.

Conclusion: Sural neurocutaneous flap is easy to get and to survive. It is an effective method to repair the soft tissue defects of the anterior foot and the ankle.