Extensor Digitorum Brevis Flap for the Coverage of Ankle and Dorsal Foot Wounds: A Technical Trick

Soft tissue wounds overlying the dorsum of the foot and ankle are difficult to treat, and historically have been treated with free tissue transfer. Advances in surgical technique have expanded the use of pedicle perforator flaps to avoid free tissue transfer in certain situations. The authors describe a technique for using an extensor digitorum brevis flap to provide soft tissue coverage for wounds of the ankle and foot. In the senior authors' experience, the use of this flap has achieved wound coverage in 100% of patients with smaller wounds (≤45 cm) of the ankle.