Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2021 Jun 9:10:Doc05.
doi: 10.3205/iprs000155. eCollection 2021.

Multistep reconstruction of a post-traumatic defect in the lower limb with AV loop and free myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap combined with a perforator monitor skin island after loss of ALT flap

Affiliations
Case Reports

Multistep reconstruction of a post-traumatic defect in the lower limb with AV loop and free myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap combined with a perforator monitor skin island after loss of ALT flap

Tobias Summer et al. GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW. .

Abstract

Crush injuries of the lower extremity with extensive osseous and soft tissue damage impose a big challenge even for an interdisciplinary reconstructive approach. Multistep reconstruction with negative wound pressure therapy for soft tissue management and external fixation for osseous stability preceding free flap transfer leads to optimized outcome. We report the successful multistep reconstruction of a third-degree open right tibial fracture with extensive soft tissue defect with an arteriovenous loop preceding latissimus dorsi flap coverage with a perforator skin island after loss of an anterior lateral thigh (ALT) flap due to intima damage of the recipient vessels. The described method is a safe reconstructive concept after primary flap loss with persistent extensive tissue damage.

Quetschverletzungen der unteren Extremität mit ausgedehnter Knochen- und Weichteilschädigung stellen selbst für interdisziplinäre rekonstruktive Konzepte eine große Herausforderung dar. Eine sequenzielle Herangehensweise, bestehend aus einem Unterdruckverband gestützten Weichteilmanagement sowie einer Knochenstabilisierung mittels Fixateur externe vor freiem Gewebetransfer, führt zu einem verbessertem Outcome. Wir berichten über die erfolgreiche mehrstufige Rekonstruktion einer rechtsseitigen, drittgradig offenen Tibiafraktur mit ausgedehntem Weichteildefekt mittels einer arteriovenösen Gefäßschleife und folgendem Latissimus dorsi Lappentransfer mit einer perforatorbasierten Hautinsel nach anterior lateral thigh (ALT) Lappenverlust durch Intimaschaden der Anschlussgefäße. Die beschriebene Methode stellt ein sicheres rekonstruktives Konzept nach Lappenverlust mit konsekutiv persistierendem Gewebedefekt dar.

Keywords: latissimus dorsi; lower limb; microsurgery; plastic surgery; reconstruction.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Preoperative defect
Figure 2
Figure 2. Defect with AV loop in situ
Figure 3
Figure 3. LD flap plus split skin graft and monitor island
Figure 4
Figure 4. Postoperative result after 2 weeks
Figure 5
Figure 5. Postoperative result after 2 weeks
Figure 6
Figure 6. Postoperative result after 6 months, frontal view
Figure 7
Figure 7. Postoperative result after 6 months, lateral view
Figure 8
Figure 8. Postoperative result after 1.5 years, frontal view
Figure 9
Figure 9. Postoperative result after 1.5 years, lateral view
Figure 10
Figure 10. Posteropative X-rays after 1 year
Figure 11
Figure 11. Intraoperative patient positioning
Figure 12
Figure 12. Harvested LD flap
Figure 13
Figure 13. Venous anastomosis perfomed with 3.0 mm coupler
Figure 14
Figure 14. Arterial anastomosis, single button 8.0 Prolene sutures
Figure 15
Figure 15. LD flap after anastomosis covering the defect
Figure 16
Figure 16. Monitor island with LD flap

Similar articles

References

    1. Lin CH, Wei FC, Levin LS, Su JI, Yeh WL. The functional outcome of lower-extremity fractures with vascular injury. J Trauma. 1997 Sep;43(3):480–485. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199709000-00015. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sop JL, Sop A. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020. [cited 2020 Dec 1]. Open Fracture Management. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448083/ - PubMed
    1. Johansen K, Daines M, Howey T, Helfet D, Hansen ST. Objective criteria accurately predict amputation following lower extremity trauma. J Trauma. 1990 May;30(5):568–572. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199005000-00007. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Singhal M, Naalla R, Dave A, Moumita De null, Gupta D, Chauhan S. The role of plastic and reconstructive surgeon in trauma care: Perspectives from a Level 1 trauma centre in India. Indian J Plast Surg Off Publ Assoc Plast Surg India. 2018 Aug;51(2):170–176. doi: 10.4103/ijps.IJPS_212_17. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Polytrauma Guideline Update Group. Level 3 guideline on the treatment of patients with severe/multiple injuries: AWMF Register-Nr. 012/019. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2018 Apr;44(Suppl 1):3–271. doi: 10.1007/s00068-018-0922-y. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types