TY  - BOOK
AU  - Parikh, Rajiv P
TI  - Free Flap Reconstruction of Traumatic Pediatric Foot and Ankle Defects: An Analysis of Clinical and Functional Outcomes
SN  - 0743-684X
PY  - 2021///
KW  - *Ankle Injuries
KW  - *Foot Injuries
KW  - *Free Tissue Flaps
KW  - *Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
KW  - *Soft Tissue Injuries
KW  - Ankle Injuries/su [Surgery]
KW  - Ankle/su [Surgery]
KW  - Child
KW  - Foot Injuries/su [Surgery]
KW  - Humans
KW  - Retrospective Studies
KW  - Soft Tissue Injuries/su [Surgery]
KW  - MedStar Washington Hospital Center
KW  - Surgery/Plastic Surgery
KW  - Journal Article
N2  - BACKGROUND: Traumatic lower extremity injuries involving the foot and ankle can have devastating consequences and represent a complex reconstructive challenge. To date, there are limited reports on microsurgical reconstruction for foot and ankle defects in children. This study aims to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes of free flaps for pediatric foot and ankle injuries; CONCLUSION: Microsurgical reconstruction of pediatric foot and ankle defects results in high rates of limb salvage. A defect- and patient-centered approach to reconstruction, emphasizing durable coverage and contour, is critical to facilitating ambulation and ensuring favorable long-term functional outcomes. Copyright Thieme. All rights reserved; METHODS: This is a retrospective review of patients undergoing free flaps for traumatic foot and ankle defects at a pediatric trauma center between 2000 and 2015. Patients with less than 5-year follow-up were excluded. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated; RESULTS: Thirty patients undergoing 30 flaps were analyzed. The mean age was 11.9 years (range: 2 to 17 years). Muscle flaps (n = 21, 70%) were more common than fasciocutaneous flaps (n = 9, 30%). Limb salvage with functional ambulation was achieved in 96.7% of patients (n = 29). The complication rate was 33.3% (n = 10), with wound breakdown (n = 6, 20.0%) as most common feature. There were no significant differences in limb salvage, total or partial flap loss, fracture union, and donor-site complications based on flap type. Fasciocutaneous flaps were more likely to require revision procedures for contour compared with muscle flaps (55.6 vs. 9.5%, p = 0.013). Mean follow-up was 8.5 years
UR  - https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1727187
ER  -