Management of donor sites after transplantation of the foot composite tissues

Abstract

Objective To explore the method of repairing the donor sites at the foot after composite tissue transplantation.Methods From September 2003 through June 2012,We repaired 59 cases of donor site defects at the foot with flap transposition or transplantation.They were 41 men and 18 women,aged from 9 to 57 years (average,34.6 years).Of them,22 were repaired by retrograde transposition of the sural neurovascular flap,13 by retrograde transposition of the saphenous neurovascular flap,12 by transplantation of lateral supramalleolar flap,9 by transplantation of the second dorsal metatarsal flap and 3 by free transplantation of groin flap.Results The flaps at the donor site all survived perfectly.The patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months (average,12 months).The donor site flaps obtained normal color and good texture,with no scar,pain or ulceration.Conclusions After composite tissue transplantation at the foot,we should attach special attention to the repair of front foot transverse arch and ligament tissue.Transplantation or transposition of neurocutaneous vascular flaps,pedicled flaps or free flaps can well repair the donor site defects at the foot. Key words: Foot; Surgical flaps; Tissue transplantation; Microsurgery