Perforator-based Pacman Flap in the Plantar Region

Numerous techniques have been used to reconstruct the plantar area to preserve the function of both recipient and donor sites and to produce satisfying results. We describe a method of plantar soft tissue reconstruction using a perforator-based Pacman flap to cover the circular defects after wide excision in cases of plantar malignancy. Eight patients who underwent plantar reconstruction between September 2008 and February 2011 were reviewed in the present study. Of the 8 patients, 6 had malignant melanoma, 1 had basosquamous basal cell carcinoma, and 1 had squamous cell carcinoma. Medial (5 patients) and lateral (3 patients) plantar artery perforator-based Pacman flaps were used. All flaps provided satisfactory coverage of the soft tissue defects in the plantar region, and all patients achieved a good functional outcome after a mean follow-up of 13 (range 2 to 22) months. The median patient age was 54 (range 26 to 67) years. The median maximum diameter of the circular defects was 40 (range 20 to 70) mm, and the mean operative time was 65 (range 50 to 120) minutes from flap elevation to wound closure. We believe that good functional outcomes and minimal complications can be achieved when the perforator-based Pacman flap is used for plantar reconstruction. Furthermore, the full extent and utility of this method of plantar reconstruction remains to be determined.