A retrospective audit of lesion excision and rotation skin flap for the treatment of intractable plantar keratosis.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment of plantar skin lesions by excision and rotation skin flap closure with reference to patient satisfaction; patient reported outcomes and complication rates.

METHOD: A retrospective audit of 54 consecutive patients who had undergone plantar lesion excision with rotation skin flap between May 2011 and November 2015 under the care of experienced consultant podiatric surgeons. A total of 36 patients were included in this study, 16 were lost to follow up, 2 patients were excluded due to non-related pathology. Outcomes were reviewed retrospectively via data extracted from PASCOM-10. This included the MOXFQ and also the PSQ-10 patient satisfaction questionnaire. Data extracted was analysed.

RESULTS

The mean MOXFQ scores improved across the three domains. Walking/standing improved from 68.75 (SD: 17.62) pre-operative to 41.38 (SD: 32.94) post-operative. Pain improved from 63.47 (SD: 19.41) pre-operative to 36.53 (SD: 25.51) post-operative and social interaction improved from 53.88 (SD: 20.33) pre-operative to 29.13 (SD: 26.56) post-operative. Similarly, the PSQ-10 scores have shown positive outcomes where 88.9% out of the cohort felt that their aims of surgery had been met.

CONCLUSION

This audit has demonstrated that the Schrudde flap is an effective and alternative safe surgical procedure for the treatment of intractable plantar keratosis and viral warts.