• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2010

Purpose: Tumor ablation and traumatic intractable ulceration of the plantar surface of the foot results in skin and soft tissue defects of the weight-bearing sole. Simple skin grafting is not sufficient for reconstruction of the weight-bearing areas. Instead, the island medial plantar flap (instep flap) and distally-based island medial plantar flap was used for proper reconstruction of the weight bearing area. However, there are some disadvantages. In particular, an island medial plantar flap has a short pedicle limiting the mobility of the flap and the distally-based island medial plantar flap is based on a very small vessel. We investigated whether good results could be obtained using a reverse island medial plantar flap based on the lateral plantar vessel as a solution to the above limitations. Methods: Three patients with malignant melanoma were cared for in our tertiary hospital. The tumors involved the lateral forefoot, the postero-lateral heel, and the medial forefoot area. We designed and harvested the flap from the medial plantar area, dissected the lateral and medial plantar artery and vena comitans, and clamped and cut the vessel 1 cm proximal to the branch from the posterior tibial artery and vena comitans. The medial plantar nerve fascicles of these flaps anastomosed to the sural nerve, the 5th interdigital nerve, and the 1st interdigital nerve of each lesion. The donor sites were covered with skin grafting. Results: The mean age of the 3 subjects was 64.7 years (range, 57 - 70 years). Histologically, all cases were lentiginous malignant melanomas. The average size of the lesion was $5.3\;cm^2$. The average size of the flap was $33.1\;cm^2$. The flap color and circulation were intact during the early postoperative period. There was no evidence of flap necrosis, hematomas or infection. All patients had a normal gait after the surgery. Sensory return progressively improved. Conclusion: Use of an island medial plantar flap based on the lateral plantar vessel to the variable weight-bearing sole is a simple but useful procedure for the reconstruction of any difficult lesion of the weight-bearing sole.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2022

The instep flap and medialis pedis flap are both originate based on the medial plantar artery. The medialis pedis flap is based from the deep branch and the instep flap is based from the superficial branch. To increase the axial rotation, it is acceptable to ligate the lateral plantar artery. However, this can partially affect the blood supply of the plantar metatarsal arch. We restored the blood flow with a vein graft between the posterior tibial artery and the ligated stump. From 2012 to 2020, 12 cases of heel reconstruction, including seven instep flaps and five medialis pedis flaps, were performed with ligation of the lateral plantar artery. The stump of the lateral plantar artery was restored with a vein graft and between the posterior tibial artery and the ligated stump. Patients were followed for 18 months. Long-term results showed the vascular restoration of the lateral plantar artery remained patent demonstrated by doppler ultrasonography. Restoring blood flow to the lateral plantar artery maintains good blood supply to the toes. If the patient in the future develops a chronic degenerative disease, with microvascular complications, bypass surgery can still be performed because of the patency of both branches.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Purpose : Plantar surfaces, calcaneal area, and region of Achilles insertion, which are extremely related with weight-bearing area and shoes application, must be reconstructed with glabrous and strong fibrous skin. Numerous methods of reconstructing defects of these regions have been advocated, but the transfer of similar local tissue as a cutaneous flap with preservation of sensory potential would best serve the functional needs of the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing surfaces of this region. Therefore it is recommended to use the limited skin of medial surface of foot that is similar to plantar region and non-weight-bearing area. In this paper we performed the medial plantar flap transfered as a fasciocutaneous island as one alterative for moderate-sized defects of the plantar forefoot, plantar heel, and area around the ankle in 25 cases and report the result, availability and problem of medial plantar flap. Materials and methods : We performed proximally based medial plantar flap in 22 cases and reverse flow island flap in 3 cases. Average age was $36.5(4{\sim}70)$ years and female was 3 cases. The causes of soft tissue defect were crushing injury on foot 4 cases, small bony exposure at lower leg 1 case, posterior heel defect with exposure of calcaneus 8 cases, severe sore at heel 2 cases, skin necrosis after trauma on posterior foot 4 cases, and defect on insertion area of Achilles tendon 6cases. Average follow up duration was 1.8(7 months-9.5 years) years. Results: Medial plantar flaps was successful in 22 patients. 18 patients preserved cutaneous branches of medial plantar nerve had sensation on transfered flap but diminished sensation or dysesthesia. At the follow up, we found there were no skin ulceration, recurrence of defect or skin breakdown in all 18 patients. But there was one case which occurred skin ulceration postoperatively among another 4 cases not contained medial plantar nerve. At the last follow up, all patients complained diminished sensation and paresthesia at medial plantar area distally to donor site, expecially with 4 patients having severe pain and discomfort during long-time walking. Conclusion : Medial plantar island flap based on medial plantar neurovascualr pedicle have low failure rate with strong fibrous skin and preserve sensibility of flap, so that it is useful method to reconstruct the skin and soft tissue defect of foot. But it should be emphasized that there are some complications such like pain and paresthesia by neuropraxia or injury of medial plantar nerve at more distal area than donor site. We may consider that medial plantar flap have limited flap size and small arc of rotation, and require skin graft closure of the donor defect and must chose this flap deliberately.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2022

Background Single free flaps are a commonly used reconstructive method for multiple soft tissue defects in digits. We analyzed the flap size, division timing, and degree of necrosis in cases with various types of flap division. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the medical charts of patients who had undergone single free flap reconstruction for multiple soft tissue defects across their digits from 2011 to 2020. The flap types included were the lateral arm free flap, venous forearm free flap, thenar free flap, hypothenar free flap, anterolateral thigh free flap, medial plantar free flap, and second toe pulp free flap. Flap size, anastomosed vessels, division timing, and occurrence of flap necrosis were retrospectively investigated and then analyzed using the t-test. Results In total, 75 patients were included in the analysis. The success rate of the free flaps was 97.3%. All flaps were successfully divided after at least 17 days, with a mean of 47.17 days (range, 17-243 days) for large flaps and 42.81 days (range, 20-130 days) for the medium and small flaps (P=0.596). The mean area of flap necrosis was 2.38% in the large flaps and 2.58% in the medium and small flaps (P=0.935). Severe necrosis of the divided flap developed in two patients who had undergone flap division at week 6 and week 34. Conclusions In cases where blood flow to the flap has been stable for more than 3 weeks, flap division can be safely attempted regardless of the flap size.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the results of anterolateral thigh perforator free flap for reconstruction of foot and ankle in old diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Fifteen diabetic foot ulcer patients over the age of 55 were operated with anterolateral thigh perforator free flap. Hematological, hemodynamic, diabetic, bacteriologic and radiologic tests were checked with examination of blood vessel state in both the donor site and the recipient site. After surgery, serial check-up was performed at 6 week, 6 month, and 1 year postoperatively on the survival of transplantation tissue, condition of foot, and condition of walking. Results: There are one case of transplantation failure and four cases of partial tissue-necrosis. Delayed wound-healing was observed both recipient and donor tissue sites. At the final follow up, three cases of small ulcer were found at junction of flap and recipient tissue in plantar area. Fourteen out of fifteen patients could walk without any brace or walking aids. Conclusion: Reconstruction of foot and ankle region in old diabetic patients with the anterolateral thigh perforator free flap is a useful method which can prevent the amputation of foot and ankle.