Anterior flap for coverage following hip disarticulation for osteomyelitis.

The use of a posterior myocutaneous flap is the most common method of coverage following hip disarticulation. Other options for coverage following hemipelvectomy have been described mainly when the conventional flap is unavailable owing to tumor involvement. We report a case of hip disarticulation for a decubitus ulcer with underlying osteomyelitis of the proximal femur; coverage was obtained using an anterior myocutaneous flap. In this case, two previous unsuccessful attempts at wound coverage prior to the hip disarticulation using a lateral and a posterior flap made the anterior flap the best available option for closure. Complete healing was achieved within two months.