Abstract
A medial plantar fasciocutaneous flap provides structurally similar tissue to the plantar foot with thick glabrous plantar skin, shock-absorbing fibrofatty subcutaneous tissue, and plantar fascia.
During the past 2 years, 4 patients (3 men, 1 woman) with skin and soft-tissue defects after resection of malignant skin tumors over the plantar forefoot were treated. They ranged in age from 58 to 76 years (mean, 67.5 years). The medial plantar flap was transposed to the defects in a reverse flow manner. Flap sizes varied from a width of 5.0 to 6.0 cm and a length of 7.0 to 11.0 cm. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 20 months (mean, 13 months). Partial flap loss was observed in one patient. However, no revision or re-grafting was performed. Hyperkeratosis was observed in two patients. All patients achieved normal gait within 2 months after surgery, and none noted recurrence of ulceration or tumors. Durable coverage of the defects was achieved in all patients. If the communicating vessels in the forefoot are preserved, we consider this flap to be useful for forefoot reconstruction after resection of skin tumors.
