[Skin and soft tissue defects at the lower extremities -- primary and secondary procedures (author's transl)]

Methods of surgical reconstruction which are available for wound closure on the lower extremities, following injury of full-thickness defects, are discussed -- especially in relation to indications of primary and secondary procedures. Special mention is given to cross-leg-flaps and tube pedicles of the legs. Indications and technical considerations involved in the treatment of 31 patients with cross-leg-flaps and 38 patients with tube pedicles are reported, as the results obtained from these operations. Out of 50 abdominal tube pedicles (38 patients), 12% were unsuccessful. 30 of the 31 cross-leg-flap were grafted successfully to their predestined sit.