Repair of severe lower leg injury at middle and advanced stages

Abstract

Objective To investigate the methods and therapeutic effects of repairing severe injury to the lower leg at middle and advanced stages. Methods Altogether 45 patients suffering from complications after severe leg injury were investigated. The infections were controlled with vacuum sealing drainage; soft tissue defects, bone defects and nonunion of fracture were treated with microsurgery; large tibial defects were repaired with bone transfer; functions of knee and ankle joints were improved with arthrolysis and arthroplasty. Results Forty-one patients were followed up for 12 to 64 (average, 38) months. All the transplanted flaps survived. Fractures healed in 39 cases, but pathological fractures occurred in 2 cases complicated with chronic osteomyelitis. The function of lower leg was rated as excellent in 20 cases, fine in 15 and poor in 6.with the excellent-to-good rate being 85.4%. Conclusion The severe lower leg injury at the middle and advanced stages can be repaired with a combination of vacuum sealing drainage, micmsurgery, bone transfer, arthrolysis and arthroplasty which can improve the function of the affected limb and decrease the rate of mutilation. Key words: Leg; Trauma; Mierosurgery; Repair