Early soft tissue coverage after complex foot trauma

Abstract

Complex foot injuries require early and durable soft tissue coverage to reduce infection rates and fibrosis, thereby improving the functional outcome. Definitive wound closure with tissue transfer was achieved as an emergency procedure within 24 hours in 2 of 28 cases, as urgent revision within 72 hours in 9 of 28 cases, and as early revision within 120 hours in 15 of 28 patients. To evaluate the global foot function the Maryland Foot Score was applied to 17 of 28 patients at the 1-year follow-up. The mean score was 74.2 (of 100) points, indicating "good" to "sufficient" foot function. The outcome was superior compared with a series of 18 consecutive open calcaneus fractures with delayed soft tissue coverage (64.4 points). These results were confirmed with a modified Merle d'Aubigné Score. The overall infection rate could be lowered to 7.1% after complex foot injuries with early soft tissue coverage compared to 26 open calcaneus fractures (19.2%). Functional scores allow a reasonable overall assessment of the results, but they are centered on subjective criteria. Thus they must be viewed in conjunction with radiologic and biometric factors as well as criteria valuable for plastic reconstruction, such as two-point discrimination and durability. Unfortunately, emergency flap procedures are still rare in foot surgery, although they permit primary stable osteosynthesis even with complex foot trauma. The foot should gain the same functional rank as the hand with respect to acute or emergency flap procedures to avoid further complications.