Objective: To report the therapeutic effect of reverse fasciocutaneous flap pedicled with perforator branch of anterior medial malleolus artery for soft tissue defect on the dorsal side of foot.
Methods: The perforator branch was located under the guidance of Doppler flowmeter. The flap was designed along the saphenous neurovascular axis. Then the flap was transferred reversely with the perforator branch as rotation point.
Results: From Feb. 2002 to Mar. 2008, 12 cases were treated and followed up for 6 - 18 months. All the flaps survived completely. The flap size ranged from 13.5 cm x 3.0 cm to 8 cm x 3 cm. The perforator branch located at 0.5 - 1.5 cm anterior-inferior to the medial malleolus. Both the cosmetic and functional results were satisfactory.
Conclusions: The flap has a reliable blood supply and a flexible design. It is easily performed for soft tissue defect on the dorsal side of foot. It is a new type flap which combined neurocutaneous vascular flap with the perforator flap.