Fig. 2

Limb-threatening chronic osteomyelitis of the calcaneus with subtotal resorption of the calcaneus and concomitant heel ulcers in a 66-year-old male patient. a Computed tomographic imaging of the right foot with subtotal bone resorption of the calcaneus due to chronic osteomyelitis. b Intraoperative lateral view of the right lower leg and foot with a major soft-tissue defect in the right weight-bearing heel before reconstruction. c Postoperative lateral view of the reconstructed heel. The bone defect has been reconstructed with a free vascularized iliac crest flap and the soft-tissue defect with a free groin flap. In-flap anastomoses were performed between the nutrient vessels of the iliac crest and groin flap and further anastomoses performed to the A. tibialis posterior. Furthermore, 15 cc bioactive glass scaffold implantation was performed. d X-ray of the right foot 21 days after internal fixation of the iliac crest bone segment by two k-wires. e + f Longterm follow-up after 1 year showing full weight-bearing and sufficient consolidated right calcaneus in the X-ray