Microvascular reconstruction of the foot: weight-bearing patterns, gait analysis, and long-term follow-up.

Between 1980 and 1989, 46 free-tissue transfers (32 skin flaps, 14 muscle flaps) were performed in 44 patients for foot reconstruction. Patient age average 25.8 years (range 2 to 74 years). Length of follow-up averaged 43 months. Flap survival rate was 96 percent. Debulking was done in 16 skin and 8 muscle flaps. The ulceration rate in 25 patients with weight-bearing flaps was 32 versus 11 percent in 19 patients with non-weight-bearing flaps. Time before ambulation averaged 6.4 months following weight-bearing reconstruction and 4.5 months following non-weight-bearing reconstruction