EMERGENCY FREE-FLAP COVER IN COMPLEX INJURIES OF THE LOWER-EXTREMITIES

Nineteen patients with complex injuries of the lower extremities were treated with emergency free flap reconstruction after radical debridem ent, bone stabilisation, and primary repair of injured structures (ner ves, tendons, vessels, and muscles). Two patients sustained complete b elow knee amputation associated with avulsion of soft tissue and had s alvage free flap transfer to preserve length of stump and function of knee joint. Long-term follow up ranged from four months to eight years (median 3.5 years). No flaps failed and there were no serious complic ations of wound healing. Procedures were associated with minimal morbi dity, a reduced number of secondary operations, shorter hospital stay, and good functional results.