Samsung Medical Center researchers develop customized microsurgery for foot melanoma

A research team at Samsung Medical Center has demonstrated that customized microsurgery can minimize pain and preserve walking functions in patients undergoing reconstruction after foot melanoma removal. The study, published in the international journal ‘Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’, analyzed 226 patients treated with free flap microsurgery between 2005 and 2023.

Foot melanoma requires extensive excision of tumor areas, which often leaves significant defects. Because the feet must support body weight and endure constant friction, reconstruction is technically challenging. The research team addressed this by adjusting the thickness of transplanted tissue to match the defect site and selecting specific vessels based on whether the reconstruction was for the toes, sole, or heel.

The study reported a low graft failure rate of 2.2%. Among 70 patients with long-term follow-up, the average foot function index score was 7.9 out of 100 at a median of 17 months, where lower scores indicate less pain and fewer functional limitations. Notably, patients requiring complex microsurgery for large defects showed no significant difference in functional scores compared to those with smaller defects treated with simpler methods.