Perforator-based intermediate dorsal pedal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition for repair of soft tissue defects of the forefoot / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the feasibility of the perforator-based intermediate dorsal pedal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition for repair of soft tissue defects of the forefoot.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed for seven cases of soft tissue defects of the forefoot hospitalized between February 2013 and January 2017.There were five males and two females,with a mean age of 38 years (range,18-73 years).Injury regions were lateral plantar skin defect in the forefoot in three cases,dorsal skin defect in the third webbed toe in two cases and proximal dorsal skin defect in the fourth toe in two cases.The defect area was about 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm-4.5 cm × 2.0 cm.The perforator-based intermediate dorsal pedal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition was designed on the lateral dorsum of the foot and then was incised and transferred to repair the forefoot wound based on its surgical anatomy.The time of surgery and the amount of intraoperative blood loss were recorded.An observation was done on feeling,appearance,texture,blood supply and survival of the flap as well as swelling,hypertrophic scar,itching,paralysis of the skin grafting area.The recovery of the activity function was assessed by American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score.Results The surgery time was 1.0-1.5 h (mean,1 h),and intraoperative bleeding was about 50 ml (range,30-100 ml).Seven cases of perforator-based dorsal medial skin flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition all survived,with early wound healing.After 2 to 15 months follow-up,two-point discrimination of flaps was 9-15 mm(average,12.5 mm).Skin flaps were with excellent texture and without swelling,the color of which was close to normal color with good appearance.The postoperative foot did not have bone resorption,wound infection,tendon adhesion,line-type or flaky scar left locally,lower limb walking dysfunction or other complications.Patients were satisfied with the functions of donor and recipient sites and the appearance of the flap.Conclusions Perforation-based dorsal flap with vessels of cutaneous nerve nutrition has high survival rate,satisfaction of appearance and fast recovery of recipient site,with no obvious foot pain,limitation of joint movement or other complications,and therefore is a reliable method to repair soft tissue defects in forefoot.