[Experiences in the use of pedicled muscle flaps in reconstructive accident surgery]

The one year-experience with muscle and musculocutaneous flaps in 16 patients with 18 flaps in different regions of the body is represented. The indications were open fractures with extensive loss of soft tissue, infectious complications after joint-replacement or osteomyelitis, defects after tumor resection or irradiation therapy and decubital ulcers. In 11 patients there was a satisfactory result. Complications with partial loss of the flap resulted from primary transposition in open fractures with marked contusion of the muscle, neglection of the specific vascularisation pattern or irradical necrectomy. Viewing the relatively simple operative techniques with muscle and musculocutaneous transposition or island flaps, free microvascular tissue transfer may be unnecessary in many situations.