Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41938876›Full record

ArticleClinics in orthopedic surgery2026

Clinical and Functional Outcomes Following Reverse Sural Flap of Lower Extremity Defects: A Comparative Retrospective Study.

Saleh Abualhaj, Mosleh M Abualhaj, Lina Alshadfan, Omar S Mansour, Eyad Alqarqaz, Mohd Said Dawod, Lamees A Arabiyat, Mohammad M Alshorman, Rami W Numeer, Osama Shattarah and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Clinics in orthopedic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Saleh AbualhajDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3243-9007
Mosleh M AbualhajDepartment of Networks and Cybersecurity, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7465-8038
Lina AlshadfanDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4832-5149
Omar S MansourDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1824-9635
Eyad AlqarqazDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5907-6723
Mohd Said DawodDepartment of Special Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1336-9304
Lamees A ArabiyatDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0615-9771
Mohammad M AlshormanDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3018-4648
Rami W NumeerDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Al Basheer Hospital, Amman, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8774-0206
Osama ShattarahGuy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0126-621X
Obadah ObeidatDepartment of General Surgery and Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1151-7385

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The reverse sural artery flap (RSAF) is widely used for soft-tissue reconstruction of distal lower extremity defects. However, outcomes may vary based on the defect site. This study aimed to compare clinical, functional, and aesthetic outcomes of RSAF performed at the ankle, heel, and lower leg, and to identify predictors of postoperative complications. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patients who underwent RSAF for soft-tissue reconstruction in the lower extremity. Patients were stratified by defect location: ankle, heel, or lower leg. Clinical data, complication rates, functional outcomes (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure [FAAM]), aesthetic outcomes (Vancouver Scar Scale), and predictors of complications were analyzed. Results: The heel group exhibited the highest complication rate (50%) compared to the ankle (33.3%) and lower leg (6.2%) ( Conclusions: While heel reconstructions demonstrated the highest raw complication rates and poorest functional outcomes, multivariable analysis suggests that patient factors-particularly smoking, obesity, and longer pedicle length-are stronger independent predictors of adverse outcomes than defect location itself. These findings underscore the importance of preoperative optimization and careful patient selection and highlight the need to interpret the influence of heel location with caution due to confounding factors such as the high prevalence of smoking in this subgroup.

Indexed as

Lower ExtremityPlastic Surgery ProceduresSoft Tissue InjuriesSurgical FlapsAdultAgedFemaleHeelHumansMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative ComplicationsRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeFootLower extremityReconstructive surgical proceduresSoft tissue injuriesSurgical flaps

Identifiers

PMID41938876
PMCPMC13047396

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