The role of fabricated chimeric free flaps in reconstruction of devastating hand and forearm injuries. 2011

Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, BG Trauma Center, Murnau, Germany. giesslerplasticsurgery@hotmail.com

Devastating hand and forearm injuries almost exclusively need free flap transfer if reconstruction is attempted. Early active and passive motion is only possible with aggressive, early, and comprehensive reconstruction. Despite recent advances in compound flaps, in selected cases it might be wise to harvest several smaller flaps and microsurgically combine them to one "chain-linked" flap "system." Four microsurgically fabricated chimeric free flaps were used in four patients for complex hand and forearm injuries. The combinations were sensate anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap plus sensate extended lateral arm flap (2x), ALT plus free fibula, and ALT plus functional musculocutaneous gracilis muscle. All flaps survived completely. Functional rehabilitation was possible immediately after flap transfer. There were no donor-site complications except two widened scars. The microsurgical fabrication of chimeric free flaps, as well established in head and neck reconstruction, can be successfully adapted to massive hand injuries as well. Individual placement of selected tissue components, early comprehensive reconstruction, and reduction of the number of operations are beneficial in cases that need more than one free flap.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005543 Forearm Injuries Injuries to the part of the upper limb of the body between the wrist and elbow. Injuries, Forearm,Forearm Injury,Injury, Forearm
D006230 Hand Injuries General or unspecified injuries to the hand. Injuries, Hand,Hand Injury,Injury, Hand
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D058752 Free Tissue Flaps A mass of tissue that has been cut away from its surrounding areas to be used in TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION. Free Flaps,Free Tissue Transfer Flaps,Microsurgical Free Flaps,Flap, Free,Flap, Free Tissue,Flap, Microsurgical Free,Flaps, Free,Flaps, Free Tissue,Flaps, Microsurgical Free,Free Flap,Free Flap, Microsurgical,Free Flaps, Microsurgical,Free Tissue Flap,Microsurgical Free Flap,Tissue Flap, Free,Tissue Flaps, Free
D019651 Plastic Surgery Procedures Procedures used to reconstruct, restore, or improve defective, damaged, or missing structures. Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgical Procedures,Cosmetic Surgical Procedures,Esthetic Reconstructive Surgical Procedures,Esthetic Surgical Procedures,Plastic Surgical Procedures,Reconstructive Surgical Procedures,Reconstructive Surgical Procedures, Cosmetic,Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgery,Procedure, Reconstructive Surgical,Procedures, Reconstructive Surgical,Reconstructive Surgical Procedure,Reconstructive Surgical Procedures, Esthetic,Surgical Procedure, Reconstructive,Surgical Procedures, Reconstructive,Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgeries,Cosmetic Surgical Procedure,Esthetic Surgical Procedure,Plastic Surgery Procedure,Plastic Surgical Procedure,Procedure, Cosmetic Surgical,Procedure, Esthetic Surgical,Procedure, Plastic Surgery,Procedure, Plastic Surgical,Procedures, Cosmetic Surgical,Procedures, Esthetic Surgical,Procedures, Plastic Surgery,Procedures, Plastic Surgical,Reconstructive Surgeries, Cosmetic,Reconstructive Surgery, Cosmetic,Surgeries, Cosmetic Reconstructive,Surgery Procedure, Plastic,Surgery Procedures, Plastic,Surgery, Cosmetic Reconstructive,Surgical Procedure, Cosmetic,Surgical Procedure, Esthetic,Surgical Procedure, Plastic,Surgical Procedures, Cosmetic,Surgical Procedures, Esthetic,Surgical Procedures, Plastic

Related Publications

Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
April 1992, Journal of hand surgery (Edinburgh, Scotland),
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
June 2017, Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
July 1991, Annals of plastic surgery,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
February 2019, European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
January 2007, Microsurgery,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
January 1997, Clinics in plastic surgery,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
March 2008, Plastic and reconstructive surgery,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
July 2009, Chinese medical journal,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
January 1984, Scandinavian journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery,
Goetz A Giessler, and Andreas B Schmidt, and Guenter Germann, and Michael Pelzer
January 2004, Scandinavian journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery and hand surgery,
Copied contents to your clipboard!