Clinical application of retrograde sural neurofasciocutaneous flap repair combined with jingulian capsules to treat foot and ankle soft tissue defects

Objectives: To observe and analyse the efficacy of retrograde sural neurofasciocutaneous flap repair combined with Jingulian capsules to treat foot and ankle soft tissue defects.

Methods: One hundred and eighty patients with foot and ankle soft tissue defects were enrolled in the study from January 2016 to June 2019 in The Second Department of General Surgery, Baoding First Central Hospital. They were divided into a study group and a reference group with the same case number. The former group was provided combination treatment, i.e. retrograde sural neurofasciocutaneous flap repair combined with Jingulian capsules; the latter group was given vacuum sealing drainage. Then, the treatment outcomes of the two groups were compared.

Results: The study group needed fewer dressing changes, less preoperative preparation time and antibiotic use than the reference group, p<0.05. The study group had a significantly lower incidence of wound infections and flap necrosis than the reference group, p<0.05. The study group was significantly superior to the reference group regarding ankle function scores and the pain visual analogue scores (VAS) p<0.05.

Conclusions: Retrograde sural neurofasciocutaneous flap repair combined with Jingulian capsules is a protocol that improves efficacy for soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle, which are worthy of promotion and practice.