Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report

Background: Numerous flap options exist for providing soft tissue coverage for defects on the heel region. This study presents a case where a bone-exposed wound on the left heel region was successfully reconstructed using a medial plantar artery flap. Case Report: A 16-year-old girl presented with...

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Main Authors: Ramadhani Hengki Wijaya, Achmad Fachrizal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Airlangga 2024-04-01
Series:Journal Orthopaedi and Traumatology Surabaya
Subjects:
Online Access:https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JOINTS/article/view/38272
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author Ramadhani Hengki Wijaya
Achmad Fachrizal
author_facet Ramadhani Hengki Wijaya
Achmad Fachrizal
author_sort Ramadhani Hengki Wijaya
collection DOAJ
description Background: Numerous flap options exist for providing soft tissue coverage for defects on the heel region. This study presents a case where a bone-exposed wound on the left heel region was successfully reconstructed using a medial plantar artery flap. Case Report: A 16-year-old girl presented with a necrotic wound on the left heel region with calcaneus, malleolus, and talus fractures following trans-ankle external fixation on her left leg. After debridement and necrotomy, the wound revealed exposed calcaneus and implant. A medial plantar artery flap was dissected, preserving its vascularization. The flap was then carefully transferred to the wounded area and sutured appropriately. A skin graft harvested from the ipsilateral femoral region was used to cover the donor site. Discussion: This case demonstrates the efficacy of the medial plantar artery flap as a local flap option for heel defect coverage. It is a relatively easy-to-perform procedure that provides a strong and thin skin flap. Moreover, it offers a favorable cosmetic outcome for the patient, as the surgical scar can be be relatively easy to hide with footwear. However, limitations of the medial plantar artery flap include its size and depth constraints, as well as loss of vascularization from a medial plantar artery on the plantar region. Conclusion: The medial plantar artery flap is a feasible option as a local flap for the heel region. It is relatively easy to perform, provides a strong thin skin flap, and can results in a preferable cosmetic outcome.
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publishDate 2024-04-01
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series Journal Orthopaedi and Traumatology Surabaya
spelling doaj-art-1b79b2523cf04ad69e19a7625c215a512025-02-12T07:27:16ZengUniversitas AirlanggaJournal Orthopaedi and Traumatology Surabaya2722-712X2460-87422024-04-01131414610.20473/joints.v13i1.2024.41-4636342Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case ReportRamadhani Hengki Wijaya0Achmad Fachrizal1Medical Profession Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, IndonesiaOrthopedic and Traumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, IndonesiaBackground: Numerous flap options exist for providing soft tissue coverage for defects on the heel region. This study presents a case where a bone-exposed wound on the left heel region was successfully reconstructed using a medial plantar artery flap. Case Report: A 16-year-old girl presented with a necrotic wound on the left heel region with calcaneus, malleolus, and talus fractures following trans-ankle external fixation on her left leg. After debridement and necrotomy, the wound revealed exposed calcaneus and implant. A medial plantar artery flap was dissected, preserving its vascularization. The flap was then carefully transferred to the wounded area and sutured appropriately. A skin graft harvested from the ipsilateral femoral region was used to cover the donor site. Discussion: This case demonstrates the efficacy of the medial plantar artery flap as a local flap option for heel defect coverage. It is a relatively easy-to-perform procedure that provides a strong and thin skin flap. Moreover, it offers a favorable cosmetic outcome for the patient, as the surgical scar can be be relatively easy to hide with footwear. However, limitations of the medial plantar artery flap include its size and depth constraints, as well as loss of vascularization from a medial plantar artery on the plantar region. Conclusion: The medial plantar artery flap is a feasible option as a local flap for the heel region. It is relatively easy to perform, provides a strong thin skin flap, and can results in a preferable cosmetic outcome.https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JOINTS/article/view/38272heelsurgical proceduretraffic accidentwound and injuries
spellingShingle Ramadhani Hengki Wijaya
Achmad Fachrizal
Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report
Journal Orthopaedi and Traumatology Surabaya
heel
surgical procedure
traffic accident
wound and injuries
title Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report
title_full Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report
title_fullStr Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report
title_short Medial Plantar Artery Flap for Soft Tissue Coverage of Heel Defect: A Case Report
title_sort medial plantar artery flap for soft tissue coverage of heel defect a case report
topic heel
surgical procedure
traffic accident
wound and injuries
url https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JOINTS/article/view/38272
work_keys_str_mv AT ramadhanihengkiwijaya medialplantararteryflapforsofttissuecoverageofheeldefectacasereport
AT achmadfachrizal medialplantararteryflapforsofttissuecoverageofheeldefectacasereport