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The medial plantar artery (MPA) is often sacrificed as the vascular pedicle of the medial plantar flap (MPF). However, for patients with ankle soft tissue defect caused by traffic accident, the anterior tibial artery (ATA) could be damaged and the blood supply of the distal foot would only come from the MPA and the lateral plantar artery (LPA). In this case, sacrificing the MPA for the MPF means that the LPA will become the mainly source of blood supply of the distal foot. Whether the blood supply of the distal foot is adequately guaranteed remains to be discussed. A total of seven patients with ankle soft tissue defect and ATA injury were enrolled in the study. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to observe the hemodynamics of the ipsilateral foot. The MPF was harvested only when the foot arterial network consisting of the MPA, the LPA, the deep plantar arch, and the deep plantar artery of DPA, and the blood redistribution existed. DSA results showed the blood from the posterior tibial artery was redistributed to the ipsilateral foot and the MPA is not the dominant artery in the foot. Seven MPFs were harvested, and all flaps survived completely. No complications, such as pain, ulcer, and necrosis, occurred in the ipsilateral toes. The DSA could accurately and intuitively evaluate the hemodynamics of foot in patients with ATA injury. The DSA data and clinical practice proved that the ATA injury is not the contraindication of the MPF.

Heel pad loss can cause serious problems in weight-bearing and locomotion. The medial plantar artery (MPA) flap is a suitable “like for like” replacement. Nineteen patients whose heels were reconstructed with MPA flap between July 2015 and February 2020 were studied. All patients were assessed based on flap survival, functionality, and patient satisfaction. Loss of heel pad was due to diabetic ulcer (11), trauma (6), tumor (1), and unstable scar (1). The largest flap measured 9 × 7 cm. Sixteen flaps were done as fasciocutaneous flaps and three in combination with abductor hallucis muscle (AbdH). All the flaps survived. The average functional scores at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were 86.86, 89.62, 89.38 and 97.33 based on AOSAS-AH score. Average patients' satisfaction was 8.7/10. To conclude, the MPA system is a versatile vascular axis providing “like for like” tissue for heel pad reconstruction which is reliable and durable.

The instep medial plantar flap is a well-known flap based on the medial plantar artery of the foot and usually used for coverage of soft tissue defects of the heel area. It has seldom been reported for coverage of anterior ankle area with exposure of the bone and metallic hardware after open reduction and internal fixation of distal tibial fractures. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and viability of this flap as well as its reliability saving the internal fixation devices and efficiency protecting bone healing; the secondary purpose is to assess the condition of the flap and its cosmetic appearance, as well as occurrence of complications related to its harvesting. This is a retrospective review of medical records of patients operated from December 2015 to December 2020 with application of an instep flap for coverage of the anterior ankle area with exposure of the bone and metallic hardware secondary to open reduction and internal fixation of distal tibial fractures. All patients were reviewed for the purpose of this study; they were assessed for the viability and functional and sensory condition of the flap, signs of local infection, as well as for residual pain and sensory impairment of the toes; subjective cosmetic appearance of the flap was also judged. There were four patients with 32 years mean age and 35 months mean follow-up. The mean flap size was 7.75 cm × 5.75 cm. At final follow-up, all fractures were completely consolidated, and all flaps were living, stable, and sensitive. No distal sensation disturbance was noticed, and none of the patients had pain or annoyance caused by the flap or presented signs of infection. Only one patient expressed mild aesthetic complain. The fascio-cutaneous instep medial plantar flap is a reliable solution to cover the anterior ankle area with exposure of the bone and metallic hardware after open reduction and internal fixation of distal tibial fractures, especially for defects measuring up to 9 cm × 6 cm. This flap is technically valid and reproducible; it offers good quality of soft tissue coverage with satisfactory cosmetic appearance and minimal morbidity.

The purpose of this case report is to describe and document a rare anatomical variation of the cranial and caudal tibial arteries seen in a mare. During routine dissection, a deviation of the great metatarsal artery (third dorsal metatarsal artery) of the right limb of a horse was detected. The artery was smaller than usual and localised between the third and the fourth metatarsal bone, while the main blood supply of the digit wаs recеived by the medial plantar artery. Deviation of the artery of the left limb and of the veins of both limbs was not detected. This variation of the main arterial vessel topography is important not only for anatomy but also for the evaluation of the normal pulse, inflammatory processes of the digit and the hoof, occlusion of the artery itself, as well as in performing conduction ana­esthesia and surgery in the metatarsal area of the horse.

Endovascular treatment for post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm (PsA) has been deemed effective and minimally invasive. However, embolization of all feeding and outflow vessels is difficult if multiple fine arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are present. In the present case, PsA of the medial plantar artery with AVF was diagnosed 1 month after injury by a rusty nail. Treatment using a combination of embolization of only the main feeding artery and percutaneous thrombin injection into PsA was successful. This approach can completely resolve PsA in narrow vessels, such as in the foot, particularly when AVF is present with numerous connected vessels.

The reverse medial plantar flap (RMPF) raised from the nonweight-bearing region of the plantar foot represents a viable option for the soft tissue defect in planter forefoot. The anatomical basis of RMPF is the complex anastomotic branches between medial plantar artery (MPA) and deep plantar arch. Those anastomotic branches have high variation rate and may be damaged by trauma such as electric injury. Therefore, it is very important to know whether those anastomotic branches are present and intact before harvesting RMPF. Five patients with soft tissue defect in planter forefoot were enrolled into the study. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to evaluate the plantar hemodynamics in the ipsilateral foot. The RMPF was harvested only after the anastomotic connections between MPA and deep plantar arch was confirmed. Anastomosis between superficial branch of MPA and deep plantar arch was observed in all DSA examinations. All 5 patients received the repair of soft tissue defect in plantar forefoot with RMPF. All flaps survived completely. The DSA can effectively evaluate the blood supply basis of RMPF and provide imaging evidence for the design and harvest of the flap. The main anatomical basis of RMPF is the anastomotic connections between superficial branch of MPA and deep plantar arch.

Reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in the foot weight-bearing area should encompass sensate and robust skin. Regarding forefoot defects, distally based medial plantar artery (MPA) flap is an ideal option. However, considering variation of the terminal branches of the MPA, reverse flow flaps can be unreliable with an increasing risk of venous congestion or insufficient arterial flow. In this report, we present a case of the use of reverse flow MPA flaps with dual flow vascularization. The patient was a 37-year-old female who presented a 7 × 3 cm soft-tissue defect of the right forefoot after wide local excision following melanoma. Reconstruction happened with a perforator distally based bipedicled flap (8 × 4 cm) on the MPA though keeping an enhanced vascularization through both superficial (sMPA) and deep (dMPA) medial plantar arteries. Donor site was closed with skin graft. Patient was discharged from hospital at postoperative Day 10 and healed uneventfully with progressive start walk was possible again. A full weight bearing with normal shoes was possible after 8 weeks. Good healing and no functional impairment were present after 9 months of follow-up. We believe this dual vascularization concept may be adopted when possible to improve the overall circulation of the flap and to prevent risks of vascular insufficiency or vein congestion.

Objective To evaluate the risk of DFUs using infrared thermography based on the mobile phone as an advanced risk assessment tool in the community setting. Method A multisite cross-sectional study design involving one hundred DM patients in ten health centers in the city of Makassar. Temperature measurement in both feet is done using infrared thermography based on mobile phones in four zones of foot, namely Medial Plantar Artery (MPA), Lateral Plantar Artery (LPA), Medial Calcaneal Artery (MCA) and Lateral Calcaneal Artery (LCA). Results The average foot temperature difference was 0.2–1.0 °C between the risk groups in the International Working Group of Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) category (p = 0.018). The risk zone for DFUs is MPA at risk 0 vs risk 1 (p = 0.025), LPA (p = 0.020) and MCA (p = 0.017) at risk 1 vs risk 2B. Conclusion Thermography infrared based on the mobile phone can detect early differences in foot temperature within the risk groups.

To evaluate the feasibility of foot arteries using flow-spoiled-fresh blood imaging (FS-FBI) and to investigate how the FS-FBI scanning parameters affect the flow sensitivity and impact the depiction of pedal arteries. The study included 46 young healthy volunteers examined by FS-FBI using 1.5T MRI scanner. Additional FS-FBI examination with different flip angles (FA) of the radiofrequency refocusing pulse and echo time (TE) was performed on 36 volunteers. Two radiologists separately analyzed and graded the venous contamination, image quality, displaying rate, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values of foot arteries. Multi-sample Friedman test and paired two-sided Student’s t test were used for statistical analysis (P

The reconstruction of finger defects requires improved functional outcomes and acceptable esthetic outcomes, and small free flaps present a good alternative technique for repairing finger skin defects. From January 2006 to December 2018, we investigated the number and diameter of proximal digital artery perforators, medial plantar artery perforators, and peroneal proper plantar digital arteries of the hallux by dissection and then transplanted free digital arterial perforator flaps, free medial plantar flaps, and free peroneal flaps from the hallux to repair small finger skin defects. The number (SD) of perforators from the medial plantar artery was approximately 2.2 (0.5), and these perforators measured 0.53 (0.20) mm in diameter. The diameter (SD) of the first metatarsal dorsal artery was approximately 1.16 (0.30) mm. A total of 25 patients were included in this study. The transplantation times (SD) for free digital arterial perforator flaps, free medial plantar flaps, and free peroneal flaps from the hallux were 3.5 (0.5) hours, 3.2 (0.7) hours, and 2.0 (0.4) hours, respectively. The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 15 months. All flaps survived and were appropriately shaped. The donor site was either covered with a free flap or directly sutured. Among these 3 types of small flaps, the free peroneal flap from the hallux can be recommended for clinical use because of the large diameter of the contributing vessels, the short operative time, the ease of access, and the improved appearance of the donor site.

A verrucous carcinoma is a rare, low-grade variant of a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It frequently occurs in Caucasian males aged 50 to 60. The tumour is locally destructive, grows into muscle, nerves and bones, but rarely metastasizes. Here we report a patient with verrucous carcinoma on the right calcaneus with the uncommon symptom of a haemorrhagic plaque at the centre and also an exophytic component. A 52-year-old man presented with a 10-year-old, progressive, painful, pruritic, exophytic growing, hyperkeratotic and haemorrhagic plaque of 5.2 x 3.5cm on the right calcaneus. The lesion emerged after extensive burns after blast trauma as a child. Excisional biopsy with 2mm margin in combination with clinical presentation favoured a verrucous carcinoma. The pathology report showed that the tumour was not excised radically; therefore, re-excision with 5mm margin was required and was performed two months later. The wound was closed with a medial plantar artery perforator (MPAP) flap. The donor site was closed with a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) from the medial side of the right upper leg and was covered by a tie-over bandage. Verrucous carcinoma is a rare tumour and can be adequately surgically treated by excision with clear margins. In this case, the verrucous carcinoma of the right calcaneus was excised and reconstructed with an MPAP flap with decent results, despite a challenging postoperative course.

Background The treatment of defects on the volar surface of the finger has been scarcely reported, and its utility for digital resurfacing remains unclear. This study compared the outcomes of free medial plantar artery flap (MPAF) and dorsal digital–metacarpal flap (DDMF) in finger reconstruction. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 24 patients with soft-tissue defects on the volar surface of the finger from March 2014 to March 2017. The patients were divided into two groups: the MPAF group and the DDMF group. The operation time, complications, such as flap necrosis, graft loss, infection, paresthesia, and donor-site morbidity, as well as two-point discrimination (2-PD) were carefully recorded. The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire was used for conduct follow-up assessment. Results After more than 12 months of follow-up, the MPAF group had a longer operative time compared with DDMF group, but there was no significant difference between postoperative complications and 2-PD test result in patients without nerve injury. And in terms of overall function, Modified VSS score and 2-PD test (the patients with nerve injury), There were relatively obvious statistical differences, MPAF was superior to DDMF (p Conclusion MPAF and DDMF are reliable for reconstruction of the volar surface of the finger; however, MPAF offers better functional outcomes and is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative complications.

The anterior foot plays an important role in walking and loading, and the distribution of anterior foot force in walking is about 37%. When the heel is off the ground, almost all of the body’s gravity falls on the anterior foot. The degloving injuries of the anterior foot are rare, often accompanied by tendon, bone exposure, and it is difficult to repair in clinically. In October 2010, the author used a free posterior tibial artery flap in series with the medial plantar flap over and out to repair the anterior foot degloving injury. Satisfactory shape and function have been obtained.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to revisit the medial plantar artery's anatomy and study its distribution for raising the medialis pedis flap. Several investigators have reported their clinical experience with the use of this flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the hand. However, many have reported difficulty raising the flap due to variations in its arterial anatomy and the confusion that exists with respect to the nomenclature in our literature. Methods This study was divided into 2 parts: an anatomic study and clinical application. In the anatomic study, 12 cadaveric feet specimens from 6 patients were injected with latex and barium-gelatin injections and the medial branch of the deep division of the medial plantar artery distribution was studied. We then described the use of a medialis pedis flap in four clinical cases to cover defects of the digits. Results The anatomic study revealed that the average pedicle length of the deep division of the medial plantar artery was 1.94cm. In the four illustrative clinical cases where the flap was used, the average flap size was 4.5 × 3.75cm. Donor sites were either closed primarily or with skin grafts. The vessels used for this flap were the medial branch of the deep division of the medial plantar artery and venae commitantes, or subcutaneous veins which provided the superficial drainage. All flaps were successful without any significant complications. The study is novel in that it describes the anatomic variability of length of the medial branch of the deep division of the medial plantar artery that exits in nature. Conclusions This paper describes the medial branch of the deep division of the medial plantar artery and the anatomic variations that exist in the raising of the medialis pedis flap. We have shown how a medialis pedis flap is an ideal option for reconstructing soft tissue defects of the hand because of its texture, bulkiness and pliability in the context of like for like reconstruction.

Covering soft tissue defects of the heel is particularly challenging because of the highly specialized functional units unique to the plantar fat pad and the shear and compressive forces experienced in this area. The medial plantar artery fasciocutaneous flap provides the unique ability to restore both sensation and the functional units to the plantar heel by taking tissue similar to that which was lost and relocating it from a non-weight-bearing portion of the foot, while maintaining minimal host morbidity. This provides a lasting solution and may prevent future ulcerations from occurring.

Background: Soft tissue reconstruction of the heel represents a daunting challenge for reconstructive surgeons, given the weight-bearing role and anatomical properties of the glabrous skin on the plantar surface. For soft tissue defects in this area, the medial plantar artery (MPA) flap has been described as an optimal reconstructive option. Many studies have reported on the use of the medial plantar artery flap for soft tissue coverage of the heel. There currently exists no systematic review on the topic. Aim: The aim of this article is to review the literature on the use of local medial plantar artery flap for heel reconstruction with a focus on overall flap viability and selected outcomes. Method: The authors performed a systematic literature review using EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Ovid Medicine, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, PubMed database, and grey literature. Studies were identified between 1981 and 2019. Peer-reviewed articles published in the English language were included. Articles were eligible if they contained original clinical outcomes on patients who underwent local medial plantar artery flap for reconstruction of heel defects. Results: A total of 135 unique studies were identified. Eighteen (18) articles were included in the review and analyses, yielding a total of 277 local medial plantar artery flaps for heel coverage. The most common etiology for the reconstructed heel defect was ulcers (45.3%) followed by trauma (35.8%). The overall complete flap survival rate was n=272/277 (98.2%). The incidence of minor flap complication was n=26/277 (9.4%). Most of the flaps maintained protective sensation (n=147/148 [99.3%]), although the protective sensation tended to be inferior to the contralateral normal side. The rate of donor site morbidity was n=14/269 (5.2%). Conclusion: Local medial plantar artery flap for heel defect reconstruction is associated with a very high flap survival rate with very few flap related complications including donor site complications.

Background Few cases are reported on the treatment of defects on the volar surface of the finger, and its utility for digital resurfacing remains unclear. This study compared the outcomes of the free medial plantar artery flap (MPAF) and dorsal digital–metacarpal flap (DDMF) in finger reconstruction. Methods This cohort study was conducted on 24 patients who had soft-tissue defects on the volar side of the finger from March 2014 to March 2017. The patients were divided into the following 2 groups: the MPAF group and the DDMF group. The operative time as well as complications, including flap necrosis, graft loss, infection, paresthesia, donor-site morbidity, and two-point discrimination (2-PD) were carefully recorded. The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) was applied to conduct follow-up assessment. Results After more than 12 months of follow-up, the results were significant. In terms of overall function, MPAF was superior to DDMF (p

A 89-year-old male presented with severe untreatable pain and ischemic non-healing ulcer in the left forefoot. The pre-procedural angiograms showed multiple stenosis of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries, occlusion of anterior tibial artery, tibio-peroneal trunk (TTP) and distal posterior tibial artery (PTA), stenosis of the peroneal artery, and the patency of the medial plantar artery (MPA) as a single pedal artery, with very poor perfusion of the lateral aspect of the forefoot. The TTP and PTA were recanalized, and balloon angioplasty of superficial femoral artery and popliteal artery and peroneal artery was carried out. After unsuccessful antegrade attempts, the lateral plantar artery (LPA) was retrogradely recanalized performing the medial-to-lateral plantar loop, navigating from the deep branch of MPA to the plantar arch and reentering back in the common plantar artery through the LPA. Balloon angioplasty of LPA was performed though the retrograde and antegrade route. When the MPA is the single pedal artery, and the antegrade recanalization of the dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) and the LPA is not possible, the medial-to-lateral plantar loop is a feasible technique to recanalize the LPA retrogradely through the plantar arch.

Resumo A ultrassonografia vascular com Doppler é um método não invasivo útil no diagnóstico e planejamento terapêutico da doença oclusiva das artérias podais. A artéria pediosa dorsal é a continuação direta da artéria tibial anterior e tem trajeto retilíneo no dorso do pé, dirigindo-se medialmente ao primeiro espaço intermetatarsiano, onde dá origem a seus ramos terminais. A artéria tibial posterior distalmente ao maléolo medial se bifurca e dá origem às artérias plantar lateral e plantar medial. A plantar medial apresenta menor calibre e segue medialmente na planta do pé, enquanto a plantar lateral é mais calibrosa, seguindo um curso lateral na região plantar e formando o arco plantar profundo, o qual se anastomosa com a artéria pediosa dorsal através da artéria plantar profunda. A avaliação das artérias podais pode ser realizada de maneira não invasiva com exame de eco-Doppler, com adequado nível de detalhamento anatômico.

Introduction. Reconstruction of heel soft tissue defects represents a true challenge for any surgeon due to the particularities of this anatomical region. The tissue used to reconstruct the heel area must be resistant, innervated, and adapted to take over the body weight. Innervated medial plantar fasciocutaneous flap is one of the best solutions to cover defects at the heel level. Materials and Methods. We studied 5 patients, 4 males and one female, aged 42 to 67 years, who presented heel soft tissue defects of various etiologies. In all cases, the used reconstructive method was an insular innervated medial plantar fasciocutaneous flap. Results. Immediate and late outcomes were good. No immediate complications of necrosis type were recorded in any of the cases, and 2 years postoperatively there was no evidence of ulceration or other type of flap injury. The socio-professional reintegration of the patients was relatively rapid and their satisfaction was high. Donor area morbidity was minimal. Conclusions. Sensate medial plantar fasciocutaneous flap represents the first choice for the reconstruction of the heel soft tissue defects when patients’ local and general status allows it.

Background Medial plantar artery perforator (MPAP) flap was proposed as proper option for finger pulp reconstruction. To provide the previously unavailable vessel information required for this small flap design, this study aimed to gather all necessary anatomy of MPA, MPAP, and their territories of blood supply to apply in clinical MPAP flap reconstruction minimizing perforator injury. Methods Dissection of 30 Thai cadaveric feet for visualizing superficial branch of MPA and its perforators (MPAP) using acrylic dye cannulation were performed. Diameter, length, number of branches, course, distributing areas of these vessels, and also their areas of blood supply were recorded in relation to specified landmarks, eg, C-MTH line; medial calcaneal tuberosity to plantar side of the first metatarsal head and S point; emerging point of superficial branch of MPA from deep fasciae into subcutaneous layer. Results Average diameter of MPA at its origin and total length are 1.63 ± 0.3 and 52.8 ± 16.1 mm, respectively. It provides 1-3 perforators, with an average size and length of 0.36 ± 0.11 and 23.2 ± 5.47 mm, respectively. Its distribution is mostly in the posteromedial quadrant within 50 and 30 mm from the midpoint of C-MTH line and the S point, respectively. The estimated perforator flap area is 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm and 4.5 cm × 2.5 cm for single and double perforators, respectively. Conclusions MPAP flap was proved as another ideal option for finger pulp reconstruction. Its limitation is small size of perforators but this can be overcome by using MPA for microsurgical anastomosis instead.

To study use of the medial plantar flap for reconstruction of the heel and foot.The authors share their clinical experience with the use of the medial plantar artery flap for coverage of tissue defects around the foot and heel after trauma. Twelve cases of medial plantar artery flap performed from January 2001 to December 2013 were included.Of the 12 patients, ten were male and two were female. The indications were traumatic loss of the heel pad in ten cases and the dorsal foot in two cases. All the flaps healed uneventfully without major complications, except one case with partial flap loss. The donor site was covered with a split-thickness skin graft. The flaps had slightly inferior protective sensation compared with the normal side.From these results, the authors suggest that the medial plantar artery flap is a good addition to the existing armamentarium for coverage of the foot and heel. It is versatile flap that can cover defects on the heel, over the Achilles tendon and plantar surface, as well as the dorsal foot. It provides tissue to the plantar skin with a similar texture and intact protective sensation.Estudar casos de retalho plantar medial na reconstrução do calcanhar e do pé.Os autores apresentam sua experiência com o uso do retalho baseado na artéria plantar medial para cobertura de defeitos teciduais no pé, especialmente do calcanhar. Doze retalhos da artéria plantar medial, feitos entre janeiro de 2001 e dezembro de 2013, foram incluídos.Dos 12 pacientes, dez eram homens e duas mulheres. As indicações foram perda traumática do coxim do calcanhar em dez pacientes e dorso do pé em dois casos. Todos os retalhos cicatrizaram sem maiores complicações, exceto um caso com perda parcial. A área doadora foi coberta com enxerto de pele parcial. Os retalhos apresentaram uma sensibilidade protetora levemente inferior ao lado normal.De acordo com os resultados, o retalho plantar medial é uma boa opção para cobertura do pé, especialmente da região do calcanhar. A versatilidade do retalho permite a cobertura de defeitos no calcanhar, sobre o tendão de Aquiles e apoio plantar, assim como o dorso do pé. Esse retalho confere para região plantar uma pele de textura similar e sensibilidade protetora intacta.

The medial plantar artery (MPA) flap was first introduced by Mir y Mir in 1954 and used to reconstruct a heel defect. The sole of the foot is designed to bear body weight and absorb the shocks of a bipedal gait. The properties of the plantar skin and deeper tissues are therefore highly specialised, and if normal function is to be restored, it is essential to replace “like with like” which is a fundamental principle of reconstructive surgery. The aim of this article is to introduce the concept of an extended medial plantar artery (EMPA) free flap for plantar foot defects. The advantage of the extended version of the MPA flap in the presented cases is the harvest of a larger bulk of tissue and thus the possibility of covering larger defects in the weight-bearing area of the foot. Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.

Soft tissue defects around the foot and ankle region often present an awkward problem for plastic surgeons. The medial plantar artery flap raised from the non-weightbearing instep of the plantar foot offers a thick, sensorial, durable, and glabrous skin. The reversed sural artery flap offers a reliable option for coverage with the advantages of a wide arc of rotation, adequate dimensions, and a reliable blood supply. The present study compared the outcomes of the medial plantar artery flap and the distally based sural artery flap in foot and ankle reconstruction. The present comparative cross-sectional study included 30 adult patients with soft tissue defects in the foot and around the ankle, who were divided into 2 equal groups. One group underwent reconstruction with the proximally based island medial plantar artery flap (MPAF). The second group underwent reconstruction with the reversed sural artery flap (RSAF). The operative time and complications were carefully recorded. The surgical outcomes in terms of flap survival, durability of coverage, and functional outcome were assessed for all patients. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in age, sex, etiology, or site of the defect. The defect size was significantly smaller in the MPAF group than in the RSAF group (22 ± 2.7 cm2 versus 66.2 ± 7.7 cm2; p

Background Objective, reliable and easy screening for peripheral artery disease (PAD) is essential to confirm the diagnosis and initiate the respective treatment. Therefore, a new non-invasive hyperspectral camera (TIVITA® Tissue) was tested in patients with and without PAD. Objective It was hypothesized that the oxygenation parameters of the TIVITA® Tissue correlate to established modalities for detection of PAD and allow differentiation between individuals with and without PAD. Methods Evaluation of tissue oxygenation was performed in the angiosome of the medial plantar artery in 25 healthy young people and in 24 patients with and 25 patients without PAD in comparable age. Thereby, superficial oxygenation (StO2) and near-infrared (NIR) perfusion index were measured with the TIVITA® Tissue. Additionally, the ankle-brachial-index (ABI), the complaint free walking distance and the vascular quality of life were assessed and demographic data were obtained from all participants. Results TIVITA® Tissue analysis revealed significantly reduced StO2 and NIR perfusion index in PAD compared to healthy young participants and patients without PAD. StO2 and NIR perfusion index positively correlated with ABI, the complaint free walking distance and the vascular quality of life score. Conclusions In summary, this new hyperspectral imaging camera bears great potential for PAD screening as well as for follow up.

Background Pseudoaneurysms of the foot are rare and can occur from a range of etiologies, including laceration from a foreign body. The majority of reported cases have been diagnosed by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or angiography. These tests require intravenous access and contrast, confer radiation, take time to perform and interpret, are expensive, and are not always readily available in the acute setting. No prior reported pseudoaneurysms of the foot have been diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). Case Report An 8-year-old boy presented to the emergency department for evaluation of left foot pain and swelling 2 weeks after stepping on small pieces of broken glass. He had a 3 × 3 cm area of painful swelling and erythema at the medial plantar aspect of his foot. A cutaneous abscess was the working diagnosis and preparations were made for an incision and drainage procedure. However, POCUS revealed a medial plantar artery pseudoaneurysm. Incision and drainage would have led to unexpected arterial bleeding. Instead, the pediatric surgery service was consulted for pseudoaneurysm excision and arterial ligation. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Incision of a pseudoaneurysm in the sole of the foot—thought to be an abscess based on clinical examination—would lead to unforeseen arterial bleeding. POCUS at the bedside can differentiate between simple abscess and pseudoaneurysm in order to guide appropriate and time-sensitive management. Historical and clinical clues to the diagnosis may include heavier-than-expected bleeding at the time of laceration and a pulsatile quality to the painful erythema and swelling.

The aim of this study was to derive and validate a model to identify peripheral sensory neuropathy using remote temperature monitoring (RTM). We used data from a recent longitudinal study of a once-daily in-home RTM mat. Neurological status was assessed via 10g monofilament. We trained and cross-validated (repeated k-fold sampler) machine learning classifiers (support vector machine with radial basis function kernels). Accuracy was defined as the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC). We report on three final models that assess neuropathic status: (1) foot temperatures at the six plantar locations commonly used for RTM; (2) high-resolution foot temperature maps (thermograms); (3) high-resolution foot shape without associated temperatures. A total of 154 feet were included, of which 30 were insensate (19.5%). The AUCs of these three models were 0.78±0.13 (good), 0.92±0.07 (excellent), and 0.54±0.16 (poor), respectively. The results suggest the diagnostic usefulness of thermograms, which is supported by the fact that analysis feature importance of model 2 shows high diagnostic value for temperatures in the medial midfoot and distal toes. The latter is possibly due to vasodilation of the medial plantar artery, while the former can be explained by the progressive nature of neuropathy from distal to proximal. That model 3 had nearly no predictive value suggests that foot deformity secondary to motor neuropathy is not contributing diagnostic value. Interestingly, 22 feet showed neuropathic progression over the 34-week study. Results from model 1 reflected these changes when assessed at enrollment and at study completion for these feet. These results suggest the RTM mat may be useful for assessing peripheral neurological function and progression in patients with diabetes. These diagnostic models may also inform improved RTM standard and machine learning algorithms for predicting diabetic foot complications secondary to neuropathy. Disclosure B.J. Petersen: Employee; Self; Podimetrics. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Podimetrics. M. Zhou: None. J.D. Bloom: Employee; Self; Podimetrics. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Podimetrics. G.M. Rothenberg: Consultant; Self; Podimetrics. D. Armstrong: None.

Medial plantar artery-based flaps have great value in healing full-thickness wounds of the foot and ankle. The goal of this study was to identify a common location for the origin of the medial plantar artery. Recognition of this anatomic marker will help improve incision placement and increase the success of preserving the artery when performing the medial plantar artery fasciocutaneous flap. This study examined the location of the origin of the medial plantar artery in 40 fresh cadavers. Results were obtained by dissection and macroscopic analysis to document the distance of the origin of the medial plantar artery from the intercollicular groove of the medial malleolus in centimeters. The mean distance was determined to be 3.2 ± 0.4 cm (range 2.7 to 4.5), with a low standard error of 0.0621. This suggests a high statistical probability that the common origin of the medial plantar artery is found 3.2 cm distal to the intercollicular groove of the medial malleolus in the general population.

Summary Introduction The medial plantar artery (MPA) flap in its anterograde form is considered the gold standard for heel reconstruction. This flap can be also raised distally for the reconstruction of the weight-bearing forefoot. However, terminal branches of the MPA, together with their connection with distal and dorsal systems, can be variable. Our objective was to provide a comprehensive anatomic description that could match all technical possibilities in raising the distally based MPA flap. A systematic review of indication outcomes and complications of the distally based MPA flap is provided. Methods According to PRISMA criteria, we systematically reviewed previous literature using the MEDLINE database concerning the MPA flap from 1977 to November 2018 using the keywords « Medial plantar flap » OR « Medial Plantar Artery ». Anatomic variations, techniques, indications, outcomes, and complications were analyzed. Results All different vascular pedicles that may be used for the vascularization of the MPA flap were classified. Apart from the flap with a proximal flow, there may be five anastomotic connections from the superficial MPA to the plantar arterial network. Four dorso-plantar links supply the plantar network thanks to dorsal vascularization. Literature analysis of outcomes showed how the retrograde MPA flap may be unreliable with 14% of venous congestion rate and 9.3% of average flap loss, for a total average flap complication of 18.6%. Conclusion This review provides the ultimate, clear picture of the complex anastomosis of the forefoot, with direct referral to surgical flap raising techniques, guiding surgeons during challenging reconstructions.

Blood pressure is commonly measured in veterinary medicine. Previous studies have used indirect measurements to compare the forelimb and hindlimb blood pressure in dogs, and yielded contradictory results. Notably in these studies, the measurement of both limbs was not performed simultaneously. In this study, Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and pulse rate (PR) simultaneously on the median palmar artery of forelimb and the medial plantar artery of hindlimb in 108 conscious dogs. The optimal cuff size was selected using 30-40% of the limb circumference. The SAP of forelimb and hindlimb were 149.5 ± 28.5 mm Hg and 152.3 ± 31.1 mm Hg. The PR of forelimb and hindlimb were 113.9 ± 31.7 beats per minute (bpm) and 113.1 ± 31.2 bpm, respectively. The SAP and PR of the forelimb and hindlimb correlated significantly (Pearson R2 = 0.696, P

One of the most common complications associated with the treatment of calcaneus fracturesis, a necrosis of the edges of the surgical wound and as a result – chronic nonhealing ulcers of the heel region and osteomyelitis of the calcaneus. In the structure of skeletal lesions osteomyelitic chronic osteomyelitis of the calcaneus occurs in 3.1–14.8% of cases, and in relation to the bones of the foot – up to 51%. At the same time after open fractures of the total incidence of deep infection from soft tissue even higher than that for the surface (12.2% vs. 9.6%). The traditional approach to the treatment of osteomyelitis of the calcaneus is often accompanied by poor performance with recurrent osteomyelitis process and high subsequent disability of working age. Objective : to identify opportunities and assess the effectiveness of the use of reconstructive microsurgery techniques in the treatment of patients with superficial forms of osteomyelitis of the calcaneus, accompanied by the presence of soft tissue defect. Materials and мethods. The results of treatment of 28 patients with superficial forms of osteomyelitis of the calcaneus, which in the period from 2006 to 2013 in RNIITO them. R.R.Vredena were performed reconstructive plastic surgery using microsurgical techniques. Defects covering tissues were located on the sole (20) and back-side surfaces (8) of the calcaneus. Scope of interventions included the radical surgical treatment of osteomyelitis focus, marginal resection of the affected heel bone and tissue replacement of defect cover flap with axial blood supply. Results. With the localization of the defect cover tissues to non-reference surface of the heel region was carried out free plastic ray skin-fascial flap (9 cases). When the location of the defect on the plantar surface of the heel region favored medial plantar flap (10 cases). However, the presence of scarring and damage to the medial plantar artery was performed two-step replacement of defect prefabrikovannym flap medial arch of the foot (9 cases). Complications were observed in 7% of cases (2 patients) in 1 patient who had undergone plastic free radial flap in 1 case – after replacing a defect medial plantar flap. In both cases they were associated with impaired blood supply to the flap and ended necrosis of transplanted grafts. In the remaining cases (93%) failed to achieve full engraftment. Long-term results were followed up in 78,5% (n = 22) of patients in the period from 1 to 8 years after the end of treatment. In four cases, the plantar surface of the calcaneus formed edge wound defects, require additional surgical treatment. on the AOFAS scale results averaged 85 points, that, given the severity of the disease, regarded as a good result. Conclusions. The use of microsurgical techniques for the treatment of patients with superficial forms of osteomyelitis of the calcaneus, including the presence of soft tissue defect, achieves sustained remission osteomyelitic process and restore support ability of the injured limb. Thus the support surface for the replacement of the heel region is expedient to use grafts comprising the plantar surface of the foot skin.