To evaluate the clinical effects of the Ilizarov method combined with two kinds of reversed neurocutaneous island flaps transfer for posttraumatic equinus with soft tissue defects on ankle and foot.

Data of 21 cases of posttraumatic equinus with soft tissue defects on ankle and foot who were treated with the Ilizarov external fixation combined with the two kinds of reversed neurocutaneous island flaps transfer from June 2006 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 4 females, aged from 26 to 65 years, with an average age of 43.9 years. The soft tissue defect dimensions ranged from 6 cm×5 cm to 10 cm×9 cm, and the time from the initial trauma to the operation ranged from 2.5 to 240.0 months. The mean preoperative equinus contracture was -38.9° (range, -25° to -66°), and total ankle range of motion (ROM) was 7.1° (range, 0°-18°). All cases were treated with the Ilizarov external fixation combined with the two kinds of reversed neurocutaneous island flaps transfer. Two weeks after the flap transfer, distraction of the Ilizarov fixator was initiated to gradually correct the equinus foot. The flap survival was observed in the postoperative period, and the International Club Foot Study Group (ICFSG) score was collected at the latest follow-up. The criteria were used to assess the morphological and functional outcome.

A total of 21 resversed flaps were transferred, including 15 sural neurocutaneous flaps and 6 saphenous neurocutaneous flaps. The sizes of flaps were from 7 cm×6 cm to 11 cm×10 cm. Among them, 17 patients underwent primary flap transfer, and 4 patients underwent a delayed second-stage procedure 2 weeks after primary surgery. The 4 delayed flaps contain 3 sural neurocutaneous flaps and 1 saphenous neurocutaneous flap. All 21 patients were followed up and the average periodof follow-up was 20.3 months (range, 8-96 months). Among the 21 flaps, 19 survived completely. Although marginal necrosis was observed in 2 cases, these wounds healed after subsequent debridement and dressing change treatment. No major complication was seen, but superficial pin tract infection was present in 4 cases who then received dressing change and oral antibiotic. Deformities were corrected, and ankle motion had increased significantly. The mean ankle activity at the latest follow up was 22° (range, 8°-38°), and postoperative ICFSG score at the latest follow-up was 5.67±3.09, which significantly reduced compared with preoperative one (30.81±3.63). The difference was statistically significant (t=32.815, P=0.035) . The results were excellent in 13 feet, good in 7, and fair in 1, with the excellent and good rate of 95.24% (20/21). The local infections were cured without recurrence at operative site. Equinus deformities were corrected, and the latest follow-up results showed that all patients walked normally without recurrence.

Ilizarov method combined with reversed sural and saphenous neurocutaneous island flap can improve the limb function and the flap can survival with good clinical effect.

External fixators; Surgical flaps; Equinus deformity