Abstract
This single-center, observational case series involved a review of prospectively collected
data pertaining to 16 V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flaps performed on 16 consecutive
patients between August 2006 and December 2008. Each patient underwent primary excision
of a foot ulcer with debridement of soft tissue and bone, insertion of polymethylmethacrylate
antibiotic–loaded bone cement, and immobilization. At an average of 3 days after the
index procedure, soft tissue and osseous deformities were corrected in 13 of the 16
patients, and a V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flap was used for coverage of the
soft tissue defect in all patients. Patients were kept nonweightbearing and were followed
up until clinical healing occurred or failure was declared. There were 12 male and
4 female patients with a mean age of 64.0 ± 7.4 years (range, 48–75 years). Fifteen
patients had diabetes mellitus with a mean of 5.1 ± 1.8 (range, 3–8) medical comorbidities.
There were 10 medial forefoot, 3 central forefoot, 2 lateral forefoot, and 1 dorsal
midfoot full-thickness soft tissue defects that displayed a mean diameter of 2.3 ±
1.4 cm (range, 1.0–3.5 cm). All but 4 flaps healed primarily, with each developing
marginal dehiscence that healed with local wound care measures. Two deep infections
occurred despite healing of the flap, which necessitated transmetatarsal amputation
with split-thickness skin graft coverage. When properly performed and after complete
resolution of infection, V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flap coverage of complex
foot ulcerations represents a useful and reliable technique even in patients with
multiple medical comorbidities.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 01, 2009
Footnotes
Disclaimer: The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
