J Korean Soc Surg Hand.  2009 Dec;14(4):240-243.

Reconstruction of a Soft Tissue Defect of the Lateral Ankle with the Abductor Digiti Minimi Muscle Flap: A Case Report

• Hong KY
• Eun SC
• Baek RM

Abstract

PURPOSE
There are several methods to reconstruct the soft tissue defect of ankle area, including skin graft, local flaps, distant flaps and free flaps. Among them, the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle flap is very useful for local flap coverage and we report a case using this unique and available technique.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A 31-year-old man with lateral malleolar soft tissue defect was referred from orthopedic surgery department. On physical examination, the wound has chronic osteomyelitis with bony destruction and discharge. After wound debridement, we detached the ADM from the head of the 5th metatarsal bone and transposed to the defected area. We placed the meshed split-thickness skin graft over the muscle flap and immobilized it using a tie-over dressing.
RESULTS
He had an uneventful postoperative course without infection, dehiscence and flap necrosis. He has remained asymptomatic for 8 months without any recurrence such as osteomyelitis. In addition, he kept a normal gait and posture with weight bearing on the lateral border of the foot.
CONCLUSIONS
We introduce very easy and useful ADM local transfer method and it is definitely indicative in the case of small, linear soft tissue defect.

Keyword

Abductor digiti minimi; Lateral ankle; Local flap

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Ankle
Bandages
Debridement
Free Tissue Flaps
Gait
Head
Humans
Metatarsal Bones
Muscles
Necrosis
Orthopedics
Osteomyelitis
Physical Examination
Posture
Recurrence
Skin
Transplants
Weight-Bearing