title: Flow-through, functioning, free musculocutaneous flap transfer for restoration of a mangled extremity.
abstract: Reconstructing a mangled extremity requires careful, complete examination of the functional and structural status of the injured part. Although the vascular status of the injured extremity is a priority, simultaneous reconstruction of skeletal, vascular, and neuromuscular structures should be considered in a combined approach. The purpose of this study was to describe a one-stage reconstruction of both soft-tissue coverage and revascularization for a lower extremity, along with functional restoration of an anterior lower leg. For this purpose, the functioning transfer of a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap as a flow-through type was performed. The results demonstrate that the technique is extremely useful in limb-salvage procedures from both functional and structural viewpoints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: H Ege
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Ozgentaş
authors.forename: M Bahadir
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dikici
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*