Abstract

Pressure ulcers which communicate with the hip joint are very difficult to treat. Often, the hip joint is infected with osteomyelitis of the proximal femur resulting in bouts of sepsis and flap failure. These patients require proximal femoral resection and wide debridement in order to eradicate the infection, which in turn results in large and deep cavities. Reconstruction requires either a muscle flap or even a total thigh flap if the defect is very large and the pelvis is involved.