Venous bridge used in free flap transfer for the lower leg in the presence of venous hypertension: a case report

Reconstruction with free flaps for the lower leg in the presence of venous thrombosis or venous hypertension has a high risk of failure. We describe the use of the contralateral leg for venous drainage through a pedicled skin bridge containing a tributary of the long saphenous vein. The recipient artery was a main artery of the ipsilateral leg. Two weeks later, once there was a well-established venous communication between flap and recipient site, the venous bridge was divided. Because the arterial inflow to the flap was not interrupted by the division of the skin bridge, the flap has good viability and good resistance to infection or ulceration 3 years later.