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.