Microsurgical free tissue transfer for lower extremity reconstruction : a review of 52 cases

Abstract EN

The use of free composite tissue transfer for reconstruction of the lower extremity was evaluated in a retrospective study.

Fifty-two patients operated on at the American University of Beirut between January 1992 and December 1996 were identified.

The microsurgical reconstructive procedures were performed for the management of acute wounds, compound fractures, chronic unstable defects, chronic osteomyelitis, and diabetic foot ulcers.

At a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, there was a failure rate of 9.6%, adequate control of diabetic foot ulcers in 90% of the patients, and no evidence of recurrence of osteomyelitis during the study period.

All compound foot fractures and all IIIB and IIIC tibial fractures were managed successfully utilising either corticocancellous bone grafting, composite osteocutaneous free flaps or bone transport techniques.

Our results show that free tissue transfer is a safe and viable treatment option in a wide variety of clinical situations.

A brief discussion of the history of microvascular free tissue transfers as well as their value in mod¬ern reconstructive surgery is also presented.