The soleus muscle flap for coverage of mid-third leg defects: a Jamaican experience

Motor vehicle accidents are a major public health problem in Jamaica, representing the leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults and consuming a large part of the health care budget, as surviving victims usually require surgical intervention and prolonged hospital stays. Patients with mid-third compound tibial fractures present a particularly difficult surgical challenge due to the difficulty in achieving soft-tissue coverage of the bone in this area, hence the need for extended hospitalization in order to prevent infection. We have used a Hemi-Soleus Muscle Flap to achieve coverage of these difficult wounds, thereby eliminating the risk of osteomyelitis, reducing hospital stays and returning patients to productive lives in a much shorter period.