Open AccessThe Historical Role of the Plastic Surgeon in Spine Reconstruction
Author(s) -
Annie Do,
Matthew J. Davis,
Amjed AbuGhname,
Sebastian Winocour,
Edward M. Reece,
Scott A. Holmes,
David S. Xu,
Alexander E. Ropper,
Scott L. Hansen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
seminars in plastic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1536-0067
pISSN - 1535-2188
DOI - 10.1055/s-0041-1722852
Subject(s) - medicine , spine (molecular biology) , orthodontics , bioinformatics , biology
Wound complications occur in up to 19% of patients undergoing complex spine surgery. The role of the plastic surgeon in complex and redo spine surgery is important and evolving. Classically, plastic surgeons have been involved in the management of patients who develop wound complications following surgery. This involves reconstruction of posterior trunk defects with locoregional fasciocutaneous, muscle, and free tissue transfers. There has also been an increasing role for plastic surgeons to become involved in prophylactic closures of complex and/or redo spine surgeries for high-risk populations. Identification of patients with comorbidities and likelihood for multiple reoperations who are prophylactically treated with complex closure with or without local muscle flaps could significantly decrease the postoperative wound complications.