Opposed transverse extended V-Y plantar flaps for reconstruction of neuropathic metatarsal head ulcers

Use of Local Flaps for Soft-Tissue Closure in Diabetic Foot Wounds: A Systematic Review

"A systematic review was undertaken to assess the outcomes of local random flaps in diabetic foot wound closure. The review was conducted using the following databases: Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Ovid, and PubMed. Search terms were local random flap, diabetes, foot, wound, ulceration, neuropathy, tissue transfer, V-Y, bilobed, monolobed, rotational, advancement, transpositional, rhomboid, and Limberg. English language studies, studies published from 1997 to 2017, patients with diabetes mellitus treated for foot wounds, use of local random flaps, follow-up period of 6 months or more postoperatively, documentation of healing rates, complications, and need for revisional surgery were included. Isolated literature reviews and descriptions of only surgical technique and/or cadaveric studies were excluded. The initial search identified 53 eligible studies with 28 being excluded. The remaining 25 studies used for data extraction had a total of 512 patients in which 199 of these underwent 204 local random flap procedures. Average follow-up for the flaps was approximately >2 years, and successful wound closure at last follow-up was demonstrated in 75.5% of the studied population. Studies were found to be of generally low quality, with the majority composed of retrospective case series. Based on current available evidence found in this systematic review, local random flaps demonstrated a relatively high success rate when utilized for the definitive closure of diabetic foot wounds. However, because of a lack of high-quality evidence and substantial heterogeneity among the studies, the results should be interpreted with caution. Levels of Evidence: Level III: Systematic review.

First dorsal metatarsal artery perforator flap to cover great toe defect

BACKGROUND

There were very few options available for distal foot and toe defects that required a vascularized flap for coverage. As such, the use of a free flap was often justified in this region of the foot. The use of perforator flaps has created a new subset of local tissue transfer alternatives that increases the potential that the difficulties associated with microvascular tissue transfers could be avoided. The first dorsal metatarsal artery (FDMA) perforator flap was one variant of this new type of tissue transfer. The aim of this report was to describe our experience using FDMA perforator flap to cover great toe defect.

METHODS

A standard FDMA flap from the dorsum of the foot was raised in reversed fashion based on the distal communicating branch or "perforator" from plantar foot circulation in two patients with great toe defect.

RESULTS

Salvage of the great toe was achieved in both patients. FDMA perforator flap achieved both reconstructive goals, and the donor site closure can be successfully performed without tension. Donor site healing was achieved in both patients with no associated complications by the 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

FDMA flap can be successfully used as a local flap to cover distal foot and toe wounds. However, direct donor site closure can be problematic and may need skin graft.

Soft Tissue Reconstruction Pyramid for the Diabetic Charcot Foot

Foot and ankle ulcerations in patients with diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy (DCN) occur frequently and can be challenging to address surgically when conservative care fails. Patients with acute or chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are at continued risk for development of osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, gas gangrene, and potential lower extremity amputation. Concurrent vasculopathy and peripheral neuropathy as well as uncontrolled medical comorbidities complicate the treatment approach. In addition, pathomechanical forces left untreated may contribute to DFU recurrence in this patient population. This article outlines in detail the stepwise approach and options available for durable soft tissue coverage in the DCN patient.

Trophic ulcers-Practical management guidelines

The management of patients with trophic ulcers and their consequences is difficult not only because it is a recurrent and recalcitrant problem but also because the pathogenesis of the ulcer maybe different in each case. Methodically and systematically evaluating and ruling out concomitant pathologies helps to address each patient's specific needs and hence bring down devastating complications like amputation. With incidence of diabetes being high in our country, and leprosy being endemic too the consequences of neuropathy and angiopathy are faced by most wound care specialists. This article presents a review of current English literature available on this subject. The search words were entered in PubMed central and appropriate abstracts reviewed. Relevant full text articles were retrieved and perused. Cross references from these articles were also reviewed. Based on these articles and the authors’ experiences algorithms for management have been presented to facilitate easier understanding. It is hoped that the information presented in this article will help in management of this recalcitrant problem.

The use of propeller perforator flaps for diabetic limb salvage: a retrospective review of 25 cases

Background

Peripheral vascular disease and/or diabetic neuropathy represent one of the main etiologies for the development of lower leg and/or diabetic foot ulcerations, and especially after acute trauma or chronic mechanical stress. The reconstruction of such wounds is challenging due to the paucity of soft tissue resources in this region. Various procedures including orthobiologics, skin grafting (SG) with or without negative pressure wound therapy and local random flaps have been used with varying degrees of success to cover diabetic lower leg or foot ulcerations. Other methods include: local or regional muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps, free muscle and fasciocutaneous, or perforator flaps, which also have varying degrees of success.

Patients and methods

This article reviews 25 propeller perforator flaps (PPF) which were performed in 24 diabetic patients with acute and chronic wounds involving the foot and/or lower leg. These patients were admitted beween 2008 and 2011. Fifteen PPF were based on perforators from the peroneal artery, nine from the posterior tibial artery, and one from the anterior tibial artery.

Results

A primary healing rate (96%) was obtained in 18 (72%) cases. Revisional surgery and SG for skin necrosis was performed in six (24%) cases with one complete loss of the flap (4%) which led to a lower extremity amputation.

Conclusions

The purpose of this article is to review the use of PPF as an effective method for soft tissue coverage of the diabetic lower extremity and/or foot. In well-controlled diabetic patients that present with at least one permeable artery in the affected lower leg, the use of PPF may provide an alternative option for soft tissue reconstruction of acute and chronic diabetic wounds.

Soft tissue reconstruction pyramid in the diabetic foot

Foot complications and ulceration are well-known sequelae to uncontrolled diabetes. Patients with chronic foot ulcers or wounds resulting from surgical debridement of deep-space infections are at continued risk for development of osteomyelitis and potential amputation. Moreover, these wounds often necessitate multiple outpatient clinic visits, daily dressing care, and prolonged periods of non-weight bearing, all of which have been shown to adversely affect the patient's quality of life. After a prudent period of wound-healing response, the authors believe that early and aggressive soft tissue reconstruction is in the patient's best interest and is crucial for resolution of the chronic nonhealing wound. The options for soft tissue coverage and the logical progression of application of these techniques in the diabetic foot will be described.

A simple adjunct to a plantar local random flap for submetatarsal ulcers

Plantar local random flaps provide a versatile method of plastic coverage for many types of pedal soft tissue defects. The ability of a local random flap to replace "like with like tissue" on the weight-bearing surface of the forefoot makes it a useful option for coverage of recalcitrant submetatarsal ulcerations. The authors describe a technique of adjunctive temporary stabilization of the affected metatarsophalangeal joint to maximize the likelihood of ultimate flap survival.

A Case Report of a Double Advancement Flap Closure Combined With an Ilizarov Technique for the Chronic Plantar Forefoot Ulceration

Soft tissue closure of defects on the plantar surface of the foot continues to be a challenge for the reconstructive surgeon secondarily to the limited number of surgical options and often difficulty of replacing durable and similar soft tissue coverage. Primary closure and skin grafting may not be suitable for the weight-bearing surfaces of the plantar forefoot area, and closure may then be obtained by other means of plastic surgery techniques.

Homodigital reverse flow island flap for reconstruction of neuropathic great toe ulcers in diabetic patients

Diabetic ulcers located in the plantar surface of the great toe resist conservative treatment modalities including skin grafts and usually require flap coverage for a stable reconstruction. Free tissue transfer is not feasible in these patients, because these defects are closely associated with peripheral vascular disease and local flap alternatives are extremely limited in this region. Reported here is the use of homodigital reverse flow island flap for reconstruction of neuropathic great toe ulcers in diabetic patients with encouraging results.