title: [Soft tissue healing in infected arthroplasty].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Soft-tissue defect coverage with well vascularized tissue (musculocutaneous or fasciocutaneous) in the arthroplasty setting. Where arthroplasty has been removed due to infection, as a muscle flap to close infected cavities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soft tissue defects, wound-edge necrosis in arthroplasty, and persistent infection in Girdlestone patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Moribund patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pedicled flap: as far as possible, lift the flap as an island flap to increase coverage. Then suture the flap into the defect (split skin graft where appropriate). Free flap: lift the flap and prepare a vascular pedicle for anastomosis. Suture the flap into the site and create arterial and vascular micro-anastomoses (split skin graft where appropriate).
  
  
  METHODS
  Position the extremity according to the flap type used. Use 500 ml HES (hydroxyethyl starch) 6% for 5 days. Avoid compression of the pedicle or anastomosis area. Flaps are generally autonomous after 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate for both flap types, free and pedicled, is >90%. The flap survival rate should not be confused with the healing rate for infected arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für septische Chirurgie, Knochen-, Gelenk- und Protheseninfektionen, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Ludwigshafen, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany. volkmar.heppert@bgu-ludwigshafen.de
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Heppert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thoele
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Suda
mesh_terms: D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome