title: Dead Space Management After Orthopaedic Trauma: Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls.
abstract: Dead space is defined as the residual tissue void after tissue loss. This may occur due to tissue necrosis after high-energy trauma, infection, or surgical debridement of nonviable tissue. This review provides an update on the state of the art and recent advances in the management of osseous and soft tissue defects. Specifically, our focus will be on the initial dead space assessment, provisional management of osseous and soft tissue defects, techniques for definitive reconstruction, and dead space management in the setting of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level V. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY;†Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Covenant Health System, Lubbock, TX; and‡Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Egol
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Liporace
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D060826:Cementoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome