ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia Del Piede 2001 September;25(3):147-56

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Soft tissue reconstruction of post-traumatic foot. III

Bruschi S., Fraccalvieri M.

This paper is the final report of personal experience in soft tissue reconstruction of the foot. The authors present reconstructive options for foot injuries according to type of trauma and anatomical regions involved (dorsum, weight-bearing heel, distal plantar area and posterior hindfoot). Skin graft, loco-regional flaps and free flaps - myocutaneous and fasciocutaneous - can be used. A series of pedicled and free flaps are described, with their advantages and drawbacks. The treatment of soft tissue defects of the foot is often an awkward problem to tackle because of the function of the foot and the frequent involvement of muscles, tendons and bones, which is caused by the thinness and poor circulation of the skin covering them and by the small quantity of local tissue available for reconstruction. In this type of reconstruction it is mandatory to obtain a protective sensation (overall for plantar area) and guarantee a thickness over bones prominences to sustain weight bearing and footwear. Cooperation between ortopedic and plastic surgeon is important to decrease surgical time and achieve a belter functional result.