[Distal extremity reconstruction for limb salvage in diabetic foot ulcers with pedal bypass, flap plasty and vacuum therapy].

There are numerous factors resulting in tissue damage and foot ulcers in diabetic patients. Critical ischaemia should be routinely excluded and an examination of the limb perfusion must be done in all cases with clinical suspicion of reduced perfusion. Pedal bypass grafting procedures in combination with flap plasty techniques achieve good results in patients with non-healing diabetic ulcers. Timing of the procedure is essential to avoid progression of gangrene. Good results of pedal bypass grafts support an indication at an early stage. Vacuum assisted wound therapy and local wound surgery can be done first to prepare patients with septic foot lesions for two-staged procedures.