Book excerpt: Unlike any other podiatric text available, this new textbook focuses on the treatment of skin and soft tissue problems of the foot and ankle area using techniques borrowed from facial plastic surgery, hand reconstructive surgery and general soft tissue plastic surgery fields and modified to be used on the foot and ankle areas. This textbook provides a detailed outline and description of evaluating, examining and documenting lower extremity skin and soft tissue conditions. It addresses these problems with a variety of techniques including suturing, incisional and excisional techniques, along with the appropriate reconstructive and plastic surgical procedures for each condition. - Includes all current techniques of revisional skin surgery and basic plastic surgery - Features an abundance of illustrations and photographs. - Reviews topics such as Preoperative Patient Evaluation, Cutaneous Anatomy, and Surgical Principles of Lower Extremity Surgery to prepare readers for studying the surgical techniques outlined in the text. - Covers excisional techniques and biopsy techniques as they pertain to the foot and ankle. - Outlines and defines the use of plastic surgery techniques - V-Y and Y-V; Z-plasty and W-plasty - for conditions of the foot and ankle and lower leg. These techniques can be used in the foot and ankle region for scar contracture which is a frequent complication of lower extremity surgery. - Includes multiple examples of appropriate techniques for correction of toenail and digital deformities. - Presents a large number of lower extremity soft tissue masses with the appropriate techniques for surgical management. - Outlines the specific indications and techniques for performing the advancement and rotation flaps for the lower extremity; these can be used to provide coverage for soft tissue defects.