Assessment of the Foot Donor Site Morbidity After Non-Vascularized Toe Phalanx Transfer to the Hand

Abstract

Background. Non-vascularized is one of the available methods of reconstructive surgery for the treatment of the hand congenital anomalies. The the impact of toe phalanx transfer on the appearance and functionality of the donor site in the long term is relevant.
 Aim of the study an objective assessment of the appearance, shape and functional state of the foot in the long-term period after the toe phalanx transfer into defects of the fingers in congenital and obtained hand pathologies.
 Methods. On the basis of the Federal Scientific Center for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled named after G.A. Albrecht 40 patients were examined, who, aged from 8 months to 11 years (in the period 2013-2022), underwent 54 toe phalanx transfer to the hand. The proximal or middle phalanx of the IV and II toes were used as a graft. To assess the condition of the feet in the long term, all patients underwent clinical and radiological studies. 12 patients aged 3 to 13 years underwent computerized plantography, podometry and barodynamoplantography.
 Results. After donor feet examination in the long-term period, lots of them showed a linear shortening of the donor toes compared to the contralateral foot, which was recorded by a computer planto-podometric method for evidence. The barodinamoplantographic study did not show significant signs of a decrease in the support ability of the foot, which could be associated with non-vascularized toe phalanx transfer. When walking, there were no obvious signs of impaired motor functions of the donor foot.
 Conclusion. It was objectively confirmed that the non-vascularized toe phalanx transfer to the hand does not significantly affect the shape and statodynamic function of the foot in the long-term follow-up period, despite the shortening of the donor toes.