Comparison of Anatomically of Medial Plantar Flap versus Reverse Sural Fasciocutaneous Flap in the Treatment of Skin Defects After Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Excision

To compare the advantages and disadvantages of reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap (RSFF) versus medial plantar flap (MPF) in the treatment of skin defects after excision of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the heel. The research participants were 80 SCC patients admitted to Lishui People's Hospital between January 2019 and April 2022, who were assigned to RSFF group (n=37) and MPF group (n=43) according to the flap type. After a one-year follow-up, the survival, flap necrosis and ulceration, as well as pain and tactile sensation recovery of both groups were counted. At the last follow-up, the clinical response was evaluated, and Short-Form 36 Item Health Survey (SF-36) and appearance satisfaction surveys were conducted. No patients died in either group, and one patient in each group developed flap necrosis. The MPF group had better sensory recovery and a lower incidence of flap ulceration (P<0.05). No notable inter-group differences were identified in clinical efficacy and SF-36 scores (P>0.05). The cosmetic satisfaction was higher in MPF group than in RSFF group (P<0.05). MPF contributes to beautiful appearance, better sensory recovery, and low risk of long-term ulceration, while RSFF is suitable for lesions with large defects or those located at the lateral heel.