[Free peroneal artery perforator sural neurocutaneous flap for hand and foot defects]

To report the operative techniques and clinical results of the free peroneal artery perforator sural neurocutaneous flaps.

Free sural neurocutaneous flap with a single unit of perforating veins and artery arising from the peroneal artery was designed to repair skin defects of hand or from the ankle to distal end of the foot. After the flap was transposed to the defect, the perforating artery was anastomosed with a branch of a nearby artery, and the small saphenous vein was anastomosed with the cephalic vein or the great saphenous vein to establish the flap's circulation. An alternative way was to anastomose the perforating vessels only. The sural nerve was anastomosed to innervate the flap.

From Jan 2005 to Dec 2007, 12 cases were treated with the flaps with no flap necrosis. The size of the flaps ranged from 12 cm x 7 cm to 18 cm x 11 cm. The follow-up period was 7 to 27 months. Both the cosmetic and functional results were satisfactory. Two point discrimination was 7 to approximately 12 mm.

The flap has all the advantages of the free flap, the perforator flap and the neurocutaneous flap. It is easily performed with reliable blood supply. It's a good choice for repairing the skin defects of hands and feet.