Objective: To evaluate functional and aesthetic outcomes of the
reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the heel with microsurgical techniques using a free radial forearm flap and an anterolateral
thigh flap.
Patients and methods: The study included 25 patients, 15 males
and 10 females, with a mean age of 34.3 ± 10.4 years, with softtissue defects of the heel. Of them, 11 patients whose defects were
of size between 5 and 10 cm in their largest dimension were
treated using a free radial forearm flap, and 14 patients whose defects were of size larger than 10 cm in their largest dimension were
treated using a free anterolateral thigh flap.
Post-operatively, avoidance of weight-bearing and walking was
required for 8 to 10 weeks. At the end of the follow-up, all patients underwent functional, aesthetic and sensation evaluation in
addition to assessment of patient satisfaction.