The forearm flap as a free neurovascular flap for treatment of an extensive bone/soft-tissue defect in the calcaneal part of the foot.

A discussion is presented on the case of a 28-year-old motorcyclist who had an accident and got caught in the spoked wheel of her vehicle. The result was an extensive soft-tissue injury of the metatarsus and calcaneal part of the foot, a defect fracture of the calcaneus, an osseous disinsertion of the Achilles tendon, a lateral malleolus Weber type-A fracture, and a fracture of the second metatarsal bone. The primary treatment consisted in extensive débridement of the strongly contaminated soft parts and refixation of the Achilles tendon on the calcaneus with two osteosynthesis screws. The bruised skin flaps remaining were adapted in a tension-free manner. However, this was possible only in a considerable talipes equinus position. In the further course, the patient developed an extensive skin and soft-tissue necrosis over the calcaneal part of the foot. A neurovascularly pedicled forearm flap was freely grafted in order to maintain the load capacity of the calcaneal part of the foot, to prevent osteitis of the calcaneus, to correct the talipes eqinus position, and to achieve a resensibilization in the load zone of the sole. The healing result was good, and it was possible to achieve extensive correction of the talipes equinus position as well as prevention of calcaneus osteitis; the function of the Achilles tendon was also maintained. Moreover, there was satisfactory resensibilization of the calcaneal part of the foot, so that the patient can now walk in ready-made shoes with a fully molded arch support.