title: Microsurgery "without borders": new limits for reconstruction of post-burn sequelae in the humanitarian setting.
abstract: Post-burn contractures account for up to 50% of the workload of a plastic surgery team volunteering in developing nations. Best possible outcome most likely requires extensive surgery. However, extensive approaches such as microsurgery are generally discouraged in these settings. We report two successful cases of severe hand contractures reconstructed with free flaps on a surgical mission in Kenya. Microsurgery can be safely performed in the humanitarian setting by an integration of: personal skills; technical means; education of local personnel; follow-up services; and an effective network for communication.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tocco-Tussardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Presman
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Biotechnologies and Sciences of Life, University of Insubria/Varese, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cherubino
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garusi
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bassetto
keywords: anterolateral thigh flap; burn contracture; hand,; humanitarian; reconstructive microsurgery