Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Management of soft-tissue complications of the lateral approach for calcaneal fractures.

BACKGROUND: Soft-tissue complications after using the lateral approach for internal fixation of calcaneal fractures are relatively frequent, even in skilled hands. The global management of these wounds has never been standardized.

METHODS: The authors present a series of 24 patients with wound edge necrosis of lateral approaches for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 52 months. The wound was covered with a local subcutaneous transverse flap in six cases, a sural subcutaneous flap in 12 cases, and a distal vastus lateralis free flap in six cases. Hardware was removed only if gross malalignment of the fracture was present. A treatment algorithm is proposed.

RESULTS: All the transverse local flaps were successful. Two sural flaps had complications that were salvaged with a free flap. All free flaps were successful, and all fractures healed. No chronic infections developed.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors' algorithm proved useful. For minor necroses (<1.5 cm wide) with supple tissues and no infection, the transverse local subcutaneous flap was effective. For moderate-sized wounds (1.5 to 5 cm) with no infection, a sural subcutaneous flap was used. In infected wounds with good fracture reconstruction, a free flap was used without hardware removal. If unsatisfactory bone reconstruction and infection were present, hardware removal and a sural flap were appropriate. For extensive defects (>5 cm) or when regional flaps failed, a free flap was useful.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app