Muscle flaps in osteomyelitis of the lower extremity: a 20-year account

Between 1977 and 1993, 64 patients had local muscle flap transposition as an integral portion of treatment for lower-extremity osteomyelitis. All muscle flaps were performed by a single surgeon. There were 54 men and 10 women with an average age of 45 years (range, 16 to 87 years). Median follow-up period was 9.3 years (range, 5 to 21 years). The muscles used included medial gastrocnemius (n = 28), soleus (n = 19), lateral gastrocnemius (n = 13), and peroneus tertius (n = 1). At final follow-up, the recurrence free rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 94, 92.5, and 86 percent, respectively. These long-term results support the use of local muscle flap transposition as an important management method in the treatment of lower extremity osteomyelitis; however, the risk of treatment failure may arise after extended periods of time.