Covering the below-knee amputation stump with the pedicled dorsalis pedis flap from the ipsilateral foot: a case report

Skin grafts provide durable end-bearing coverage for lower-extremity amputations with critical soft tissue loss

Lower-extremity amputations in the presence of soft tissue loss represent an unresolved conundrum because surgeons must consider sacrificing bone length to obtain adequate soft tissue coverage. Local flaps and microvascular soft tissue transfers are established strategies for maintaining residual limb length. However, the use of skin grafts remains controversial due to the presumed inferiority compared with flaps with regard to enabling prosthetic fitting and full weight bearing. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that split-thickness skin grafts represent a safe and feasible option to preserve bone length in lower-extremity amputations with critical soft tissue loss.

[Transtibial amputation salvage with a cutaneous flap based on posterior tibial perforators]

When performing an amputation of the lower limb, the preservation of the knee joint is important to obtain an optimal functional outcome. Many reconstruction procedures are available to cover the amputation defect in order to preserve a sufficient length of the stump, so a prosthesis could be put in place with the best functional results. Local musculocutaneous flaps or free flaps are conventionally described with their advantages and disadvantages. In this report, we describe our experience with a transtibial amputation and stump covering using a fasciocutaneous flap based on tibial posterior perforators. An extensive tibial bone exposure with only posterior skin was viable. It is an efficient and reliable solution for covering tibial stump without microvascular anastomosis.