title: [Repair of soft-tissue defect of amputation stumps of the forearm with free flap from the traumatic amputated extremity].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical results of the repair of soft-tissue defect of amputation stumps of the forearm with free flap from the traumatic amputated extremity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients, 4 males and 1 female, aged 32 (22 - 43), with soft-tissue defect of the remaining stump of the traumatic amputation of the forearm, 3 cases in the right forearm and 2 cases in the left forearm, underwent repair of the defect by free flap from the traumatic amputated extremity with the size of the flaps ranging from 8 cm x 9 cm to 9 cm x 12 cm. The patients were followed up for 2.6 years (1.5 - 3.5 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Superficial infection occurred in one patient postoperatively and the wound was gradually healed by daily wound dressings. All the flaps survived completely with satisfactory clinical results. The cosmetic appearance on the recipient area was good and the function of the elbow recovered satisfactorily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The flap from the traumatic amputated extremity has a constant vascular anatomy and a long vascular pedicle, so that dissection of the flap can be accomplished easily. The surgery allows to preserve the functional length or the elbow function of the remaining stump of the traumatic amputation.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics and Traumatology Hospital of Wenling City, Wenling 317500, China.
authors.forename: Gong-lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ling-zhi
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhao-yue
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Feng-huo
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-zheng
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Fa-ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps