title: One-stage reconstruction of war wounds with free osteocutaneous flaps.
abstract: Thirty-one patients with traumatic osteocutaneous defects of the extremities sustained during the war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were treated at the Institute of Plastic-Reconstructive and Breast Surgery in Zagreb. Injuries were categorised using the Mangled Extremity Syndrome Index (MESI). The average length of bone defect was 5.9 cm (range 4-12 cm). Patients were divided in two groups according to the time they had reconstruction with a free osteocutaneous flap: group 1, within 6 days after injury, and group 2, after more than 6 days. The mean time to reconstruction in group 2 was 5.2 weeks. Average time to solid bone union was 13.3 weeks in group 1 and 16.6 weeks in group 2. Functional outcome was better in group 1 with fewer complications, smaller number of operations and shorter hospital stay. One-stage reconstruction of osteocutaneous defects with free composite flaps provides reliable treatment solution with good functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dzepina
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stanec
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skrbić
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hulina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivrlac
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unusić
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D017523:Croatia; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*