title: Large heel soft tissue defects managed successfully with reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap: a 7-year single-center experience with 21 consecutive cases.
abstract: The medial crural fasciocutaneous flap is a reliable cutaneous flap that can be used for soft tissue reconstruction in the extremities. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the application and clinical significance of this surgical technique in the reconstruction of heel soft tissue defects. Twenty-one cases of heel soft tissue defect between March 2005 and March 2012 were included in this study. Wound sizes varied from 5.0 × 5.5 to 7.5 × 10.0 cm. All cases were managed with a reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap. Patient demographics and case information were analyzed and are reported. The sizes of the reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap varied from 6.5 × 10.0 to 9.0 × 15.0 cm; the average size was 7.7 × 13.8 cm. Out of the 21 consecutive cases, 20 flaps survived intact and one flap underwent partial necrosis. Follow-up observations were conducted for 6-36 months. The cosmetic results were satisfactory, without apparent bulkiness; the weight-bearing outcomes were satisfactory. The donor site can be closed primarily or by skin graft. Reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap transfer is appropriate for the reconstruction of heel soft tissue defects. The method is safe and can cover large heel defects.
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Reconstruction Unit, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jing-Chun
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Reconstruction Unit, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Reconstruction Unit, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia-Ao
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Reconstruction Unit, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chun-Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China. Electronic address: bu_dong007@163.com.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lai-Jin
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Reconstruction Unit, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, China.
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chun-Hui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006365:Heel / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Heel; Medial crural flap; Reconstruction; Wounds and injuries