Free fillet flap application to cover forequarter or traumatic amputation of an upper extremity: A case report

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microsurgery 2016, Vol.36 (8), p.700-704
Main Authors: Scaglioni, Mario F, Lindenblatt, Nicole, Barth, André A, Fuchs, Bruno, Weder, Walter, Giovanoli, Pietro
Format: Report
Language:English
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1098-2752
DOI:10.1002/micr.30124