Objective This study is to compare flap-viability-related complications, coverage reach, recon-struction outcomes and donor-mobidities between distally-based peroneal artery perforator-plus fasciocutaneous (DPAPF)flap and distally-based posterior tibial artery perforator-plus fasciocutaneous(DPTAPF)flap for recon-struction of soft-tissue defects over the distal lower leg, ankle and foot, and thus provide evidence for selection of the flaps. Methods Between April, 2002 and February, 2012, 216 and 59 patients underwent the reconstructions with DPAPF flaps(peroneal group)and DPTAPF flaps(posterior tibial group)respectively. We subdivided the distal lower leg, ankle and foot into 12 subregions. In all the patients, flap-viability-related complications and its potential risk factors(including age,sex,etiology,location of top edge,location of pivot point,length and width of both the skin is-land and adipofascial pedicle, length-width ratio, and total length), coverage reach(the subregion in which the most distal part of the reconstructed defect lies),duration of flap elevation and hospital stay were compared between the two groups. In patients with at least 3 months postoperative follow-up, comparative study of reconstruction outcomes, pa-tient's satisfaction with flap appearance and donor-site morbidities were performed between the groups. Results Partial necrosis rate in the peroneal of the posterior tibial group were 12.0 percent versus 20.3 percent,respectively(P> 0.05). Marginal necrosis and overall complication (including partial and marginal necrosis)rates in the peroneal group(1.9 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively)were significantly lower than those in the posterior tibial group (8.5 percent and 28.8 percent,respectively)(P<0.05).Incidence of partial necrosis of the flaps for the defects over subregions 7 to 10 in the peroneal group(7 of 41)was significantly lower than that in the posterior tibial group(2 of 2).There was no difference in reconstruction outcomes and patient's satisfaction with flap appearance in both groups(P >0.05).Incidences of hypertrophic scar,itching and pigmentation at the donor site were significantly lower in the peroneal group(P<0.05). Conclusion DPAPF flap is superior to DPTAPF flap in reliability,safe coverage reach and less donor-site morbidities.The former is recommended as the first choice when local pedicle flaps are considered to recon-struct soft-tissue defects over the distal lower leg,ankle and foot.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize our experience with the sural neurofasciocutaneous flap for reconstructing the soft tissue defects over the forefoot distal to the connecting line of midpoints in the metatarsal bones, and to compare the outcomes between the flap for resurfacing the defects distal and proximal to the connecting line. METHODS: The clinical data of 425 sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps for repairing the soft tissue defects in the middle and lower leg, ankle, and foot between Apr. 2002 and Apr. 2020 were reviewed. Based on the connecting line of midpoints of the metatarsals, the sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps were divided into a forefoot group (flaps with furthest edges distal to the connecting line) and a peri-ankle group (flaps with the furthest edges proximal to the connecting line). RESULTS: The partial necrosis rate in the forefoot group (14.5%, 10/69) was significantly higher than that in the peri-ankle group (7.0%, 25/356), with significant difference (P<0.05). Using the flap alone or in combination with a simple salvage treatment, the ratio of successful coverages of the defects was 98.6% (68/69) in the forefoot group, and 97.8% (348/356) in the peri-ankle group, respectively, with no statistical difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The sural neurofasciocutaneous flap is a better choice for covering the soft tissue defects over the forefoot distal to the connecting line of midpoints of the metatarsal bones. The survival reliability of the sural neurofasciocutaneous flap reconstructing the soft tissue defect proximal to the connecting line is superior to that of the flap reconstructing the defect distal to the connecting line.
Ankle/surgery* ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Reproducibility of Results ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Surgical Flaps