ABSTRACT
Introduction: Lower limb damaged areas are open doors to infection, to the loss of plasma, blood, electrolytes and fluids, in addition to being responsible for intense pain. Therefore it is necessary to cover them as soon as possible so that the patient can be stabilized preventing early complications and future sequels. Muscle and musculocutaneous flaps are used to repair these areas. Over the years several treatments with flaps have been suggested for injuries repairment, among them the soleus muscle flap, the focus of this work. Objective: To describe the author's experience using the rotation of the soleus muscle. Methods: Eighteen patients with loss of substance of the medial third of the leg were treated by using the rotation of the soleus muscle, from 2008 to 2010. Results: The results were satisfactory and without major complications. Conclusion: This is an option to treat lesions caused by various etiologies such as ulcers, osteomyelitis, loss of cutaneous substance of third middle leg, and to cover skin lesions with exposure of osteotendinous structures, becoming a great assistance tool to the plastic surgeon.
Keywords: Muscle, Skeletal. Lower Extremity. Surgical Flaps. Reconstructive Surgical Procedures.