Retrograde-flow medial plantar island flap reconstruction of distal forefoot, toe, and webspace defects

Plantar forefoot defects have been reconstructed using a wide variety of techniques, including skin grafts, local flaps, and free tissue transfer. The distally based, retrograde-flow medial plantar island flap provides coverage with durable plantar skin from the nonweight-bearing instep area to reconstruct defects at the metatarsal heads. This technique requires careful flap dissection, and the anterior reach of the flap is limited by its pedicle length and vascular pivot point location. The authors describe two cases using this flap for reconstruction of tumor resection defects (5 x 6 cm and 5 x 8 cm) involving the distal forefoot, toes, and webspaces. One case required venous supercharging of a congested flap with an interpositional vein graft. Technical aspects of the design, elevation, and inset of the flap that enhance its versatility and reliability are presented. The reverse-flow medial plantar fasciocutaneous island flap should be considered an option for forefoot defects that extend anteriorly onto the metatarsal heads, including defects involving the toes and webspaces.