Objective: To evaluate functional and aesthetic outcomes of the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the heel with microsurgi- cal techniques using a free radial forearm flap and an anterolateral thigh flap. Patients and methods: The study included 25 patients, 15 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 34.3 ±10.4 years, with soft- tissue defects of the heel. Of them, 11 patients whose defects were of size between 5 and 10 cm in their largest dimension were treated using a free radial forearm flap, and 14 patients whose de- fects were of size larger than 10 cm in their largest dimension were treated using a free anterolateral thigh flap. Post-operatively, avoidance of weight-bearing and walking was required for 8 to 10 weeks. At the end of the follow-up, all pa- tients underwent functional, aesthetic and sensation evaluation in addition to assessment of patient satisfaction. |
