Covering of Diabetic Foot Ulcers with Local Flaps: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease which affects about 415 million people globally. The most common complication of diabetes is diabetic foot ulceration,which increases the risk of lower leg amputation by a factor 8. To avoid such catastrophic consequences a multidisciplinary approach for limb sparing has been developed. The purpose of this review article was to present the possible surgical reconstructive options in covering diabetic foot ulcers with local flaps.There are many different reconstructive modalities described in the literature and are based on the complexity and the size of the defect and comorbidities of the patient. Local flaps, especially muscle flaps, provide a good, vascularized tissue cover and produce lower 5-year mortality rate and lower economic cost, as compared to limb amputation.