Treatment of diabetic foot with antibiotic bone cement combined with delayed lateral supramolleolar perforator fascial flap / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of antibiotic bone cement combined with delayed lateral supramolleolar perforator fascial flap in the treatment of diabetic foot(DF).Methods:From April 2020 to July 2021, a total of 6 patients with DF were treated with antibiotic bone cement combined with delayed lateral supramolleolar perforator fascial flap. The patients were 5 males and 1 female, aged from 45 to 67 years old with an average of 56.2 years old. The wounds were all located in dorsal foot, 4 in right foot and 2 in the left. The wound area was 2.4 cm×5.0 cm-6.5 cm×10.0 cm. The depth of wound were 3 cases up to tendon layer, and 3 cases up to metatarsal bone. Two of the wound were complicated with metatarsal osteomyelitis. The wounds at Wagner grade 3 in 4 patients and grade 4 in 2 patients. The flap size was 3.0 cm×6.0 cm-8.0 cm×11.0 cm. All of the wounds were repaired with delayed supramolleolar perforator fascia flap after debridement, application of antibiotic bone cement and fumigation with Sanhuang decoction(a traditional Chinese medicine). The affected limbs were externally fixed with plaster and raised after surgery, and the colour, temperature, tension and capillary reaction of the flaps were closely observed. Stitches were removed 2 weeks after surgery and rehabilitation of the affected limb was performed. Regular follow-up was made postoperatively. The appearance of flaps and the scar of donor and recipient sites were observed. The foot and ankle function were evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Association foot and Ankle Surgery(AOFAS) score scale.Results:Six cases of DF had no recurrence of wound infection. All flaps survived well. The average follow-up time was 6(3-14) months. The postoperative follow-up revealed satisfactory appearance of the flap, only linear scars remained in the donor and recipient sites. The function of foot and ankle recovered well with full weight-bearing and normal walk. AOFAS scores ranged from 81 to 95.Conclusion:It is an effective method to treat DF by applying antibiotic bone cement combined with delayed superior lateral malleolus perforator fascial flap. The operation is simple, safe and can cut down the time of treatment, quickly control the wound infection. It deserves further trials.