title: Soft tissue coverage of war extremity injuries: the use of pedicle flap transfers in a combat support hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Definitive management of extremity injuries including soft tissue coverage is seldom achieved in battlefield medical treatment facilities due to limited resources and operational constraints. The purpose of this study was to analyse the French Army Medical Service experience performing such reconstructive surgery in a Combat Support Hospital (CSH) in Afghanistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical study was performed in the KaIA (Kabul International Airport) CSH from July 2012 to January 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this period 23 Afghan patients treated for soft tissue coverage of combat-related extremity injuries were included. They totalled 28 extremity injuries including 18 blast trauma (BT) and ten non blast trauma (NBT). Overall, 35 extremity pedicled flaps were performed. There were 26 fasciocutaneous flaps, eight muscle flaps and one composite flap. Soft tissue coverage was achieved on all patients reviewed with a mean follow-up of 59 days. Five postoperative complications occurred including two deep infections, one partial flap necrosis and two flap failures, without difference according to injury mechanism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reconstruction of traumatic soft tissue defect can be achieved in CSHs for local nationals. Pedicle flap transfers provide simple and safe coverage for war extremity injuries in this challenging environment whatever the injury mechanism.
authors: Clinic of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Desgenettes Military Hospital, Lyon, France, laurent_tom2@yahoo.fr.
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Mathieu
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Gaillard
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Pellet
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Bertani
authors: Sylvain
authors: S
authors: Rigal
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Rongiéras
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps