Reversed plantar metatarsal artery island flap for coverage of the plantar defects at the first and second toes

Abstract

To investigate the clinical effect of reversed plantar metatarsal artery island flap in repairing the plantar soft tissue defects at the first and second toes. 12 cases with plantar soft tissue defects at the first and second toes were repaired by reversed plantar metatarsal artery island flap which size ranged from 2 cm x 3 cm to 4 cm x 6 cm, including 5 cases at emergency, 5 cases with the donor site defects at great toes after free lateral pulp flap transfer, and 2 cases with the donor site defects at second toes after free medial pulp flap transfer. All the reversed plantar metatarsal artery island flaps at the first and second toes survived uneventfully with desirable appearance and sensation over a 3-35 month follow-up. No complication happened at the donor sites. It is an reliable method to adopt the reversed plantar metatarsal artery island flap for the plantar soft tissue defects at the first and second toes, with the advantages of stable blood vessels, high survival rate, good skin texture and few complications.