Foot salvage in arteriolosclerotic and diabetic patients by free flaps after vascular bypass: report of two cases.

Vascular bypass has been a successful procedure for the salvage of ischemic limbs. Amputation after vascular bypass procedures alone is common when extensive ulceration, osteomyelitis, or bone-tendon exposure is present, especially in the diabetic patient. We report two patients in whom the foot was salvaged by microsurgical free flap after revascularization with bypass grafting. Both patients are diabetic who presented with severe arteriolosclerotic foot, associated with extensive ulceration as well as bone and tendon exposure.