title: Delayed microsurgical reconstruction of the extremities for complex soft-tissue injuries.
abstract: The treatment of severe wounds of the extremities, characterized by large posttraumatic tissue loss, represents a clinical problem difficult to resolve, especially when the lesion is surrounded by large areas of ischemic distrophic tissue which progressively aggravate and extend the initial lesion, with frequent exposure of bone and joint structures making the amputation of the limb an inevitable outcome. The authors present their experience based on combined treatments by medical support methods such as hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and vacuum-assisted closure therapy (VAC) and microsurgical reconstruction of the limbs, within a precise therapeutic protocol. The use of this protocol in appropriate times and ways allowed us to successfully treat severe posttraumatic sequelae of the limbs, avoiding the delayed healing typical of these pathologies, both on the donor site of the flap and on the repaired area, and avoiding unsuitable microsurgical reconstruction of limbs, allowing satisfactory morpho-functional restoration and a reduction of the hospitalization period.
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Unit, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Ancona, Ancona Teaching Hospital, Torrette di Ancona, Italy. michriccio@libero.it
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.forename: Pier
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolo Pangrazi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campodonico
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum