Free fasciocutaneous flaps in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia: a retrospective study.

The efficacy of free fasciocutaneous flaps for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia was evaluated in a retrospective study. A series of 14 patients is reported who underwent soft-tissue reconstruction using different free fasciocutaneous flaps after radical debridement. Radical debridement and microvascular reconstruction were performed in two operative steps. The mean duration of disease was 14 years (range: 6 months to 37 years). At a mean follow-up of 31.4 (12 to 52) months, there was no evidence of recurrence of osteomyelitis. This retrospective study validates that fasciocutaneous flaps can be used for microsurgical soft-tissue reconstruction after radical debridement in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. The introduction of free fasciocutaneous flaps has challenged the dictum of the therapy of chronic osteomyelitis with muscle flaps.