Feasibility of Various Loco-Regional Flaps in the Reconstruction of Weight Bearing Heel Pad Defects-An Observational Study

Abstract

Reconstruction of weight bearing heel defects is challenging to plastic surgeons because of the paucity of local available soft tissue. Heel is a specialized tissue because of its importance in weight bearing. The main aim of reconstruction of weight bearing heel defects is to give a robust, stable, durable, sensate, flap cover with skin akin to glabrous skin of foot to withstand shearing forces while walking and for weight bearing. The various reconstructive options described for resurfacing weight bearing heel defects are skin grafts, local flaps, pedicled or slanded fasciocutaneous flaps, cross leg flaps, free tissue transfer.