Sensory reinnervation in microsurgical reconstruction of the heel.

Six sensory reinnervation techniques were carried out in 10 patients who underwent reconstruction of the weight-bearing surface of the heel by microsurgical free-tissue transfer. The techniques include the use of neurovascular island flaps, neurosensory flaps, sensory nerve grafts to skin flaps, coaptation of the sensory nerve to the motor nerve of the muscle flaps, direct sensory nerve transfer, and sensory nerve graft transfer. In all patients, some sensation developed, characterized by sensation to light touch, to dull objects, to pinprick, to pain, and to tickling. Three patients developed the ability to distinguish sharp from dull objects and the sensation of pain. The remaining seven had the sensation of touch to various mechanical stimuli. In nine patients, the sensation is located in the weight-bearing surface of the reconstructed heel. Five patients bear weight on the reconstructed surface at least 6 hours per day. Three participate actively in sports. Split-thickness skin graft-muscle flaps were more prone to breakdown than skin flaps. Full-thickness skin flaps appear necessary for the production of pain sensation and the more discriminating sensations. Preliminary results suggest a functional benefit after sensory reinnervation.