[Treatment of cutaneous losses of the heel with lateral calcaneus artery flap].

The lateral calcaneal artery flap is an axial flap which comprises also the saphenous vein and the sural nerve. Its use has been reported for coverage of skin loss of the malleolus and calcaneal area. The donor area should be closed by a split thickness skin graft. In the present report, eight patients who had skin loss on the foot were submitted to reconstruction with the lateral calcaneal flap. In seven there were island flaps and in one a bridge of skin similar to that described by Grabb and Argenta. The etiology was trauma in five patients and decubitus ulcer in three. The results were good. The flap was adequate for the cover on the posterior foot area even after submitted to the strain of normal walking. The advantages were simpler technique and consistency of the anatomical landmarks.