ABSTRACT
An open lower tibial fracture and an associated soft tissue defect were covered with
a free latissimus muscle flap and skin graft. A 1.5 × 3.5 cm skin island “buoy” supplied
by a single myocutaneous perforator was left attached to the revascularized muscle
flap for seven days and monitored with a pulse oximeter. Pulsatile arterial flow and
O2 saturation in the revascularized free flap were accurately and reliably followed
postoperatively.
