Maxfacts

Foot

Postoperative problems affecting the foot include

• Since the demise of the use of the dorsalis pedis (using the artery on the back of the foot) osseocutaneous free flap for use in maxillofacial reconstruction because of concerns around severe donor site morbidity and impact on patients living with and beyond cancers quality of life, there are no other relevant issues affecting the foot with respect to maxillofacial surgery. The only exception are problems stemming from the use of the lower leg as a flap and graft donor site.
• These effects are usually:
  • altered sensation over the lateral foot (side of the foot) from use of the sural nerve (sensory nerve in the calf of the leg) as a reconstructive nerve graft, or if injured during lower leg skin in flaps or grafts;
  • inability to elevate the big toe, secondary to dysfunction of muscles dissected when raising a free fibula microvascular flap.