Soft Tissue Coverage After Revisional Foot and Ankle Surgery

Abstract

Unlike the traumatic "mangled" foot and ankle in which amputation could be an acceptable if not preferred option, revisional foot and ankle surgery starts with a viable foot that is then injured by the surgeon hopefully to benefit the patient. Any untoward sequela, such as inadequate wound healing, instead always requires consideration of limb salvage. Unfortunately, this may not be so simple. A proactive approach to solve this problem in a timely fashion is important. The goal must always be to get a healed wound so the final result improves the ability for independent ambulation by the patient.

Keywords: Free flaps; Local flaps; Microsurgical tissue transfer; Perforator flap; Revisional foot and ankle surgery.