Use of expanded reverse sural artery flap in lower extremity reconstruction

Coverage of defects of the distal third portion of the leg and foot remains a challenge for surgeons. The difficulty results from the limited mobility and availability of the overlying skin, the weight-bearing requirements, and the relatively poor circulation of the skin. From January 2008 to December 2009, 10 patients had defects of the foot and ankle covered using the 2-stage expanded reverse sural flap. Of these 10 patients, 6 had at least 1 risk factor for compromised wound healing, such as diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, tobacco smoking, or age older than 40 years. Flap necrosis was observed in only 1 patient (10%). Venous congestion was noted in 2 patients (20%) by the third postoperative day, 1 of whom responded to postural elevation of the extremity and 1 to medicinal leech therapy. Although it is a 2-stage procedure that requires wound dressing during the expansion, we strongly suggest the use of the expanded reverse sural flap for defects too large to be primarily closed, especially in patients older than 40 years with risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, or venous insufficiency.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

10-patient series using 2-stage expanded reverse sural flap; venous congestion observed in 2 patients with 1 successfully treated by medicinal leech therapy.

Erfahren Sie, wie diese Forschung mit der klinischen Praxis verknüpft ist

More peer-reviewed studies in Klinische Studien.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Wound healing potential of bark paste of Pongamia pinnata along with hirudotherapy: A case report — Balasooriya D, Karunarathna C, Uluwaduge I (2021)
• AIF-1 and RNASET2 Play Complementary Roles in the Innate Immune Response of Medicinal Leech — Baranzini N et al. (2019)
• Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model — Zakian A et al. (2022)
• [Hirudo medicinalis-leech applications in plastic and reconstructive microsurgery--a literature review] — Knobloch K et al. (2007)
• The duration of rest and feeding greatly affects the re-breeding of ectoparasites: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis — Aminov R, Frolov A, Aminova A (2022)
• Recombinant hirudin in clinical practice: focus on lepirudin — Greinacher A, Lubenow N (2001)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →