Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

  Abstract

  The leg is a complex district with functions of weightbearing support, stability,

  and motility. The management of extensive and complex defects is more challenging

  and often results in leg amputation or shortening. Leg amputation is a severe

  mutilation that alters the patient’s work and social life by limiting ambulation and

  self-sufficiency. During a 3 years period we treated four patients with leg injury

  consisting of tibial defect who underwent one-stage surgery for soft tissue and bone

  reconstruction. The follow-up period was from 31 to 36 months. Time to bony :::union:::

  ranged from 4 to 7 months. Time to full weight bearing was from 5 to 9 months after

  operation. All of the transferred tissue showed hypertrophy after weight bearing.

  Non:::union::: & abscess occurred in one case. Arterial thrombosis & valgus deformity

  were other postoperation complications. The limb was shorter by an average of 0.5

  cm in three cases, longer by 1.1 cm in one case, and in the last case, it was not measurable. Other disabling complications were not seen. We believe that this forgotten

  method can be a valuable alternative to other techniques such as free fibula flap in

  certain cases that the surgeon can reconstruct bone & soft tissue defects in one stage.