title: Coverage of defects over toes with distally based local flaps: A report of four cases.
abstract: Reconstruction of the distal foot, especially of the toe has always been a challenging problem. Various methods have been tried with variable success rates and limitations. Presented here is a series of four cases, where distally based flaps were used. Two of them were Extensor Digitorum Brevis (EDB) muscle flaps and the other two were first dorsal metatarsal artery (FDMA) based skin flaps. One in each of the two was augmented with a plantar V-Y advancement flap. All flaps survived completely without any flap- or donor site-related complications. The patients were ambulated two weeks following the reconstruction and were symptom-free after an average follow-up of thirteen months. Distal flaps based on the dorsalis pedis system provide a reliable cover for distal foot defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Trust Hospital, Cochin - 682 016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Ashok Raj
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.forename: Rahul K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Vinoth Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Philip