Reconstruction of the sole and heel and infancy in childhood followed up for more than 10 years.

Abstract

We evaluated 10 patients in which the initial reconstruction of the weight-bearing area of the sole and heel was performed in infancy or childhood and which had been followed up more than 10 years. In the initial operations, a cross-leg flap was used in 5, full-thickness skin graft in 5, and split-thickness skin graft in 1 (in 1 patient, both a cross-leg flap and a full-thickness skin flap was used). Secondary reconstruction was performed using skin graft from non-weight-bearing areas in 6 patients and a cross-leg flap in 1 patient. In infancy and childhood, temporary closure of a wound by skin graft from the inguinal area or a cross-leg flap was attempted. Initial reconstruction using the non-weight-bearing area must be performed carefully in infancy and childhood.