Cross-Leg Free Flap for Emergency Extremity Salvage: Case Report

ABSTRACT

The use of a cross-leg free flap and consequent limb salvage was successfully performed in a 10-year-old boy with a compound open fracture of the tibia, involving extensive skin and soft-tissue loss. This method should be kept in mind, as it may sometimes, in an emergency situation, lead to lower-extremity salvage, as in the case reported.

KEYWORD

Cross-leg - free flap - extremity salvage

REFERENCES

• 1 Taylor G I, Townsend P, Corlett R. Superiority of the deep circumflex iliac vessels as the supply for free groin flaps.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1979;  64 745
• 2 Chen H C, Mosely L H, Tang Y B. Difficult reconstruction of an extensive injury in the lower extremity with a large cross-leg microvascular composite tissue flap containing fibula.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1989;  83 723
• 3 Hodgkinson P D, Andhoga M, Wilson G R, McLean N R. Cross-leg free muscle flaps for reconstruction of open fractures of the tibia.  Injury . 1994;  25 637
• 4 Chen H, El-Gammal T A, Wei F C. Cross-leg free flaps for difficult cases of leg defects: indications, pitfalls, and long-term results.  J Trauma . 1997;  43 486
• 5 Townsend P LG. Indications and long term assessment of 10 cases of cross-leg free DCIA flaps.  Ann Plast Surg . 1987;  19 225
• 6 Topalan M. A new and safer anastomosis technique in the cross-leg free flap procedure using the dorsalis pedis arterial system.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 2000;  105 710
• 7 Yamada A, Harii K, Ueda K. Versality of a cross-leg free rectus abdominis flap for leg reconstruction under difficult and unfavorable conditions.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1995;  95 1253
• 8 Brenman S A, Barber W B, Pedersen W C, Barwick W J. Pedicled free flaps: indications in complex reconstruction.  Ann Plast Surg . 1990;  24 420