Reconstruction of Distal Foot Defects with Using Various Reverse Flaps in High-tension Electrical Burn Patients.

Song, Hong Shick; Kim, Sung Chul

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Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 1999;26(5):968-975.
Published online September 1, 1999.

Reconstruction of Distal Foot Defects with Using Various Reverse Flaps in High-tension Electrical Burn Patients.

Hong Shick Song, Sung Chul Kim

Abstract

Distal foot defect is frequently encountered as an output site in high-tension electrical burn injuries, and proper treatment methods should be applied in order to achieve a properly-functioning foot. However, in distal foot defects around the metatarsal heads or metatarsophalangeal joints, conventional methods have not been ideal, replaced by such methods as secondary healing, amputation or skin graft because there was insufficient tissue in the distal foot and the general condition of the patient was unsuitable for distant or free flap surgeries. So, in order to establish convenient, promising methods for the reconstruction of distal foot defects in severe electrical burns, we classified the distal foot into four zones according to their blood supply and we defined or created ideal reverse flaps in each zone. From April 1996 to March 1999, we reconstructed 43 cases of distal foot defects in fourth-degree high voltage electrical burn wounds. In 19 cases of MP(medial plantar) zone injuries, we used reverse medial plantar island flap and in 5 cases of DP(dorsalis pedis) zone, we created a reverse dorsalis pedis island fascia flap, In 11 cases of P(peroneal) zone, we created reverse peroneal fascia flap and in 8 cases of I (intermediate) zone, we modified a reverse posterior tibial island flap, There was partial flap necrosis or grafted skin loss in five cases, but those were extremely minor problems and we successfully reconstructed distal foot defects in all 43 cases. In conclusion, proper reverse flaps according to the zone of the distal foot are ideal reconstructive methods because they provide good vascularization, sufficient tissue from the proximal parts and they require short operative time with relatively easy procedures.

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