Filleted toe flap for chronic forefoot ulcer reconstruction

Chronic plantar and dorsal forefoot ulcer may result from injury, structural deformity, and abnormal sensation or circulation. It is not uncommon that the distal portion of the affected toes is deficient functionally in these patients. A filleted toe flap from the expendable functionless toe can provide a durable, stable, and sensate skin flap of 4 to 5.5 cm for coverage of the forefoot defect. In this report, five cases of dorsal forefoot defects and four cases of plantar forefoot defects due to ischemia (N = 3), trophic change (N = 2), and diabetes (N = 4) were treated with filleted toe flaps. One flap failed due to postoperative deep infection. The other eight filleted toe flaps survived but 2 patients underwent secondary amputations 7 months and 2 two years later because of secondary diabetic foot infections.