Limb Salvage: Stopping the Amputation Cycle
In diabetic neuropathy, repetitive trauma and vascular insufficiency cause painless plantar ulcers. When an ulcer penetrates deep enough to expose the calcaneus, metatarsals, or Achilles tendon, conventional dressings cannot heal the defect. Without specialized plastic surgery, these patients frequently face below-knee amputation.
Dr. Vishal Purohit provides reconstructive limb salvage at Jaipur Hospital. By debriding infected bone and transferring well-vascularized neurofasciocutaneous tissue into the defect, we provide durable, weight-bearing coverage that shields bones and tendons, preserving the foot and patient mobility.
Key Reconstructive Flaps for Diabetic Foot
The Reverse Sural Artery Flap
The workhorse flap for heel, ankle, and hindfoot reconstruction. Based on the distally situated perforating branches of the peroneal artery, this flap brings thick, reliable skin and subcutaneous tissue from the calf down to the heel, preserving sensation and weight-bearing ability.
Local Intrinsic Muscle Transpositions
For deep forefoot and midfoot ulcerations, transposing the abductor hallucis or abductor digiti minimi muscle covers exposed metatarsal heads and promotes rapid granulating bed formation.