title: Free fillet flap application to cover forequarter or traumatic amputation of an upper extremity: A case report.
abstract: Reusing tissue of amputated or unsalvageable limbs to reconstruct soft tissue defects is one aspect of the "spare parts concept." Using a free fillet flap in such situations enables the successful formation of a proximal stump with the length needed to cover a large defect from forequarter amputation without risking additional donor-site morbidity. The use of free fillet flaps for reconstruction after forequarter and traumatic upper extremity amputations is illustrated here in a case report. A 41-year old patient required a forequarter amputation to resect a desmoid tumor, resulting in an extensive soft-tissue defect of the upper extremity. A free fillet flap of the amputated arm and an additional local epaulette flap were used to reconstruct the defect. At 9 months after the procedure, a satisfactory result with a very well healed flap was attained. Free fillet flaps can be used successfully for reconstruction of large upper extremity defects, without risking additional donor-site morbidity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:700-704, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mario F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Scaglioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lindenblatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: André A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Balgrist University Hospital, Sarcoma Center-UZH University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weder
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giovanoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000601:surgery*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: forequarter amputation; free fillet flap; sarcoma surgery; upper extremity