Friday, March 28, 2003 - 8:38 AM
2907

Utilization Of The Turn-over Flap As A Viable Alternative In Reconstructing Difficult To Close Wounds

Jeffrey J. Gibson, MD, Tasha J Cristo, MS4, Julie Spears, MD, and Amit Mitra, MD.

Introduction: Wounds with significant skin and soft tissue loss near and or over bone can be difficult to reconstruct. We present a case series of single staged random-pattern de-epithelialised “Turn-Over” flaps (TOF’s) as an important option to achieve skin and soft tissue coverage in these complex cases. Methods: The random pattern flaps were designed with a one to one length to width ratio adjoining the defects to be closed. The flaps were de-epithelialised along its entire length and width excluding the skin over the base and raised in the subcutaneous adipose tissue layer. The flaps were turned over through 180° and sutured over the defects. The TOF and adjacent secondary defects were then covered by a split-thickness skin graft. Results: Ten cases of TOF’s over an 18 month period were reviewed at our Tertiary Care University center with no flap loss and minimal complications. Discussion: Wounds with soft tissue loss and or surrounding exposed fractures often need skin flaps to allow healing. Coverage may be difficult requiring a local transition flap, a distant flap or possibly even a free flap. We present a successful local single-staged flap which should be considered as an option for safe closure of complex wounds.