[Reconstruction of large foot sole areas with microsurgical tissue transfers]

In 14 patients with microsurgically reconstructed areas of the sole videografic gait analysis was performed. The best results are reached after reconstruction of the forefoot. Loss of more than two thirds of the sole leads to functional impairment. For all reconstructed areas and all types of flaps gait is improved significantly by shoe adaptation: elevation of the shoe under the reconstructed part of the sole directs the main load to the opposite side of the foot and by this relieves the reconstructed area. Even bone corrections can reduce load on a circumscribed area.