Sequential free tissue transfers for simultaneous upper and lower limb salvage. 2013

Ian L Valerio, and Jennifer Sabino, and Adam Bevevino, and Scott M Tintle, and Mark Fleming, and Anand Kumar
Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA. ian.valerio@med.navy.mil

BACKGROUND The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have presented military reconstructive surgeons with a high volume of challenging extremity injuries. In recent years, a number of upper and lower extremity injuries requiring multiple tissue transfers for multiple limb salvages in the same casualty have been encountered. Our group will discuss the microsurgical challenges, algorithms, and success and complication rates for this cohort of war injured patients. METHODS All consecutive limb salvage cases requiring free flaps from 2003 to 2012 were reviewed. Cases involving simultaneous free tissue transfers were identified. Data collected included success rates and complications with comparisons made between the single and multiple free-flap limb salvage cohorts. RESULTS Seventy-four free flap limb salvage cases were performed over the 10-year period. Of these cases, four patients received two free flaps to separate upper and lower extremity injuries for limb salvage within a single operative setting. The complication rate was 63%, which was significantly higher than those cases in which a single microvascular anastomosis was performed (26%, p = 0.046). However, the higher complication rate did not increase the flap or limb salvage failure rates (p = 0.892 and 0.626). CONCLUSIONS The last decade of war trauma has provided a high volume of extremity injuries requiring limb salvage procedures including casualties who underwent single and multiple free flap coverage procedures. Although multiple flap limb salvage procedures have a higher complication rate, they can be performed within the same patient without concern for increased failure rate in carefully selected and appropriately managed patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007869 Leg Injuries General or unspecified injuries involving the leg. Injuries, Leg,Injury, Leg,Leg Injury
D008297 Male Males
D008889 Military Personnel Persons including soldiers involved with the armed forces. Air Force Personnel,Armed Forces Personnel,Army Personnel,Coast Guard,Marines,Navy Personnel,Sailors,Soldiers,Submariners,Military,Force Personnel, Air,Personnel, Air Force,Personnel, Armed Forces,Personnel, Army,Personnel, Military,Personnel, Navy,Sailor,Soldier,Submariner
D001753 Blast Injuries Injuries resulting when a person is struck by particles impelled with violent force from an explosion. Blast causes pulmonary concussion and hemorrhage, laceration of other thoracic and abdominal viscera, ruptured ear drums, and minor effects in the central nervous system. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Injuries, Blast,Blast Injury,Injury, Blast
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
D000673 Amputation, Traumatic Loss of a limb or other bodily appendage by accidental injury. Amputations, Traumatic,Traumatic Amputation,Traumatic Amputations
D001134 Arm Injuries General or unspecified injuries involving the UPPER ARM and the FOREARM. Injuries, Arm,Arm Injury,Injury, Arm
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D013978 Tibial Fractures Fractures of the TIBIA. Segond Fracture,Tillaux Fracture,Toddler's Fracture,Fracture, Segond,Fracture, Tibial,Fracture, Tillaux,Fracture, Toddler's,Fractures, Tibial,Tibial Fracture,Toddler Fracture,Toddlers Fracture

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