[The internal plantar island flap. Anatomic study and surgical applications]

Defects of the skin of the heel need to be repaired by skin which is both thick and sensitive. A technique of isolation of an island flap from the non-weight-bearing part of the medial side of the sole is described. It is vascularised by the medial plantar artery and innervated by the medial plantar nerve. Lesions of the heel, the medial malleolus and the lower part of the tendo Achilles can be covered by a one-stage surgical procedure without microsurgical suture.