Objective To investigate the surgical methods and cl inical results of reconstructing soft tissue defects in dorsum of forefoot with distally based saphenous neurocutaneous flap of lower rotating point. Methods From January 2005 to August 2007, 6 cases of soft tissue defects in dorsum of forefoot, including 4 males and 2 females aged 28-53 years, were treated with the distally based saphenous neurocutaneous flaps of lower rotating point. The soft tissue defect was in left foot in 2 cases and in right foot in 4 cases. Five cases of soft tissue defects were caused by crush, and 1 case was caused by traffic accident. Tendons and bones were exposed in all cases. The defects after debridement were 7.0 cm × 5.0 cm to 9.0 cm × 5.5 cm in size. Emergency operation was performed in 2 cases and selective operation in 4 cases. Rotating point of the flaps was from 1 to 3 cm above medial malleolus. The size of the flaps ranged from 8.0 cm × 6.0 cm to 13.0 cm × 6.5 cm. Neuroanastomosis was performed in 2 cases of the flaps. Skin defects in donor site were repaired with thickness skin graft. Results Four cases of the transferred flaps survived completely and the other 2 cases began to swell and emerge water bl ister from the distant end of the flap after operation, which resulted in distal superficial necrosis of flaps, heal ing was achieved after change dressings and skin grafted. Skin graft in donor site survived completely in all cases. All cases were followed up from 6 to 18 months. The color and texture and thickness of theflaps were similar to reci pient site. Pain sensation and warmth sensation of the 2 flaps whose cutaneous nerve were anastomosed recovered completely, two point discrimination were 8 mm and 9 mm respectively. Sensation and warmth sensation of the 4 flaps whose cutaneous nerve were not anastomosed recovered partly. All patients returned to their normal walking and running activities and no ulceration occurred. No donor site morbidity was encountered. Conclusion Blood supply of the distally based saphenous neurocutaneous flap of lower rotating point is sufficient, the flap is especially useful for repair of soft tissue defects in dorsum of forefoot.
OBJECTIVE: To provide a new reconstructive method to treat refractory ulcers on the sole of the forefoot. METHODS: The reversed medial plantar flap with the medial plantar pedal artery and vein as pedicle was used to treat the refractory ulcers on the sole of the forefoot in 5 cases. The size of the flap was 3.5-5.0 cm x 4.0-5.5 cm. The deformities were corrected at the same time and the flaps were protected after operation. RESULTS: All flaps survived without complications. There was no recurrence after 6-month following-up. The patients could walk. CONCLUSION: The distal ends of medial plantar pedal artery and vein have plenty anastomoses with dorsal pedal artery and deep plantar arch. The reversed medial plantar flap has reliable blood supply by these anastomoses. The reversed medial plantar flap should be a choice in treating refractory ulcers on the sole of the forefoot.
Objective To investigate the operative techniques and cl inical results of the superficial peroneal neurofasciocutaneous flap based on the distal perforating branch of peroneal artery in repairing donor site defect of forefoot. Methods From March 2005 to October 2007, 15 patients (11 males and 4 females, aged 20-45 years with an average of 33.6 years) with finger defects resulting from either machine crush (12 cases) or car accidents (3 cases) were treated, including 12 cases of thumb defect, 2 of II-V finger defect and 1 of all fingers defect. Among them, 6 cases were reconstructed with immediate toe-to-hand free transplantation after injury, and 9 cases were reconstructed at 3-5 months after injury. The donor site soft tissue defects of forefoot were 6 cm × 4 cm-12 cm × 6 cm in size, and the superficial peroneal neruofasciocutaneousflaps ranging from 10 cm × 4 cm to 14 cm × 6 cm were adopted to repair the donor site defects after taking the escending branch of the distal perforating branch of peroneal artery as flap rotation axis. The donor sites in all cases were covered with intermediate spl it thickness skin grafts. Results All flaps survived and all wounds healed by first intention. All reconstructed fingers survived completely except one index finger, which suffered from necrosis. Over the 6-18 months follow-up period (mean 11 months), the texture and appearance of all the flaps were good, with two-point discriminations ranging from 10-13 mm, and all patients had satisfactory recovery of foot function. No obvious discomfort and neuroma were observed in the skin-graft donor sites. The feel ing of all the reconstructed fingers recovered to a certain degree, so did the grabbing function. Conclusion Due to its rel iable blood supply, no sacrifice of vascular trunks, favorable texture and thickness and simple operative procedure, the superficial peroneal neurofasciocutaneous flap based on the distal perforating branch of peroneal artery is effective to repair the donor site defect in forefoot caused by finger reconstruction with free toe-to-hand transplantation.
Objective To investigate the operative procedures and cl inical outcomes of the modified superficial peroneal neuro-fasciocutaneous flap in repairing soft tissue defect of forefoot. Methods From May 2006 to May 2009, 5 male patients (aged 40-63 years) with soft tissue defect of forefoot were treated with the modified superficial peroneal eurofasciocutaneous flap. Tendons and bones were exposed in all cases. Defect was caused by object crash (4 cases) and traffic accident (1 case). The sizes of soft tissue defects of forefoot were 4 cm × 2 cm-8 cm × 4 cm. Rotating point of the modified superficial peroneal neuro-fasciocutaneous flap pedicled with the peripheral vessels network of ankle joint was at the level of tibiotalar joint. The flaps ranging from 5 cm × 4 cm to 10 cm × 6 cm were adopted to repair soft tissue defects of forefoot. The donor sites were either sutured directly or covered with intermediate spl it thickness skin grafts. Results All flaps survived and all wounds healed by first intention. Skin graft at donor site survived completely in all cases. All patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean 11 months). The appearance, texture, and function of the flap were satisfactory. There was a protective sensibil ity in all flaps without abrasion or ulceration, and the two-point discrimination of the flaps was 10-13 mm. The walking pattern was normal. No obvious discomfort was observed at the skin-graft donor sites. Conclusion With rel iable blood supply, no sacrifice of vascular trunks, favorable texture, and thickness, the modified superficial peroneal neuro-fasciocutaneous flap pedicled with the peripheral vessels network of ankle joint is useful to repair skin soft tissue defect of the forefoot.
Objective To evaluate the surgical treatment and effectiveness of rheumatoid forefoot reconstruction with arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and arthroplasty of lesser metatarsal heads. Methods Between January 2007 and August 2009, 7 patients with rheumatoid forefoot were treated by reconstruction with arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and arthroplasty of lesser metatarsal heads. They were all females with an average age of 62 years (range, 56-71 years) and with an average disease duration of 16 years (range, 5-30 years). All patients manifested hallux valgus, hammer toe or mallet toe of 2-5 toes, 5 feet complicated by subluxation of the second metatarsophalangeal joint. The improved American Orthopaedic Foot amp; Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 36.9 ± 6.4. The hallux valgus angle was (46 ± 5)°, and the intermetarsal angle was (12 ± 2)° by measuring the load bearing X-ray films preoperatively. Results All incisions healed by first intention after operation. The X-ray films showed bone fusion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint at 3-4 months after operation. Seven patients were followed up 2.9 years on average (range, 2-4 years), gait was improved and pain was rel ieved. The hallux valgus angle decreased to (17 ± 4)° and the intermetarsal angle was (11 ± 2)° at 3 months postoperatively, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative values (P lt; 0.05). The improved AOFAS score was 85.3 ± 5.1 at 2 years postoperatively, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=4.501, P=0.001). One patient had recurrent metatarsalgia at 4 years after operation. Conclusion Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and arthroplasty of lesser metatarsal heads for rheumatoid forefoot reconstruction can correct hallux valgus, remodel the bearing surface of the forefoot, and rel ieve pain, so it can be considered as a procedure that provides improvement in the cl inical outcome.
The skin and soft tissue defects or ulceration of the wight-bearing part of the sole was difficult to repair with medial plantar island flap, but would be treated with retrograde island flap carrying plantar metatarsal arteries as pedicle. Ten flaps were applied in 9 patients. They had either indolent ulcer or skin defect secondary to excision of painful corn or callosities of the front part of the sole. The flaps were 3 cm to 5 cm long and 3 cm to 4 cm wide, and they all survived following retrograde transfer. The patients were followed up for 1 to 10 years. It was found that the patients could bear weight on the operated foot and could walk without pain or lameness. The flaps were resistant to abrasion from long-time walking. It was concluded that this kind of flap was best suitable to repair the ulcers and defects over the front part of the sole despite there were some minor shortcomings such as the size of the flaps available was small and the donor site required split skin graft for coverage.