Quantification and Further Refinement of Lateral Calcaneal Artery Flap for Complicated Heel Defect Reconstruction

Reconstruction of posterior heel defects requires tissues with adequate blood supply, good elasticity, and sensate; because of the traumatic origin in the young population, it ends up with morbidity. The lateral calcaneal artery is the arterial supply of the lateral calcaneal artery flap. This is one of the viable choices for coverage of hind foot soft-tissue defects. The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of the lateral calcaneal artery flap in terms of function, donor site morbidity, and duration of surgery.

This was a descriptive case series. Patients with complicated heel defects of small to medium size were included. The follow-up period was 6 months to 1 year of posttreatment. Outcome measures were noted and assessed in all patients in terms of function, donor area morbidity, and total duration of surgery. Significance was determined by assessing the gait, donor site pain, physical appearance at the surgical site, and time needed for surgery.

Twelve patients [men: eight (62.5%), women: four (37.5%)] were selected for this study, with their mean age being 14.4 ± 7.4 years. Mean defect size was (4.4 ± 0.5) cm. Mean flap size was 3.5-5.5 cm (P < 0.001). There was a near-normal gait in all patients, with a pain score of (0-2) on the visual analogue scale score, physical appearance by Vancouver scar scale score (0-3), and the mean duration of surgery was 45 ± 4.5 minutes.

The lateral calcaneal artery flap is more effective for reconstruction of posterior heel and tendon Achilles defects in terms of function, donor area morbidity, and duration of surgery.