[Repair soft-tissue defect in forefoot with reversed lateral soleus muscle flap]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Microsurgery

Background:

• Soft tissue defects in the forefoot present reconstructive challenges.
• Limited availability of local flaps necessitates alternative surgical solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of using a reversed lateral soleus muscle flap on a peroneal artery pedicle for forefoot soft tissue defect repair.

Main Methods:

• Eight patients underwent reconstruction using this flap technique between 2005 and 2013.
• The flap was transposed to the defect and covered with a skin graft.
• Postoperative flap viability and patient outcomes were assessed.

Main Results:

• All muscle flaps survived completely with no vascular complications.
• Minor complications included superficial infection and small skin graft necrosis, which healed spontaneously.
• Good contour was achieved, with 6 patients reporting good and 2 fair results based on the Cedell questionnaire.

Conclusions:

• The reversed lateral soleus muscle flap is a viable and effective option for forefoot soft tissue reconstruction.
• It is particularly suitable when local flap options are restricted.