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Free fillet flap application to cover forequarter or traumatic amputation of an upper extremity: A case report
Author(s) -
Scaglioni Mario F.,
Lindenblatt Nicole,
Barth André A.,
Fuchs Bruno,
Weder Walter,
Giovanoli Pietro
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.30124
Subject(s) - medicine , fillet (mechanics) , soft tissue , surgery , amputation , free flap , microsurgery , engineering , mechanical engineering
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.