Musculocutaneous flaps for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the heel.

Treatment for chronic osteomyelitis with musculocutaneous and muscular flaps is a highly effective modern method. It is effective even in such unfavourable localizations as the calcaneus. The scope of use provided by muscles in the plantar region is wide enough to permit the treatment of foci in the heel bone of diverse localizations. The range of possibilities includes use of m. abductor digiti quinti. A muscular or musculocutaneous flap elevated from the muscle is well suited for the treatment of defects on the external side of the heel. The group consisted of six patients with osteomyelitis of seven heel bones operated on as described above at the author's clinics between 1983 and 1987. One patient had both heel bones affected. The mean age was 47 years, ranging from 23 to 62 years. All of the patients showed clinical and X-ray signs of healing of the soft tissue defects and full remission of inflammatory complication. Control check-ups were made at 2-5 years postoperatively with an average postoperative period of 38 months. None of the patients developed any chronic osteomyelitis relapse at any point during that period.