FUNCTIONAL AND SOCIAL LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER FREE TISSUE TRANSFER TOTHE LOWER-EXTREMITY

We report the long-term social and functional results in 53 patients r eceiving free tissue transfer after trauma to the lower extremity. The results are compared with those of a matched group of patients receiv ing primary amputation. The microsurgically treated patients had signi ficantly more complaints over pain during walk (p = 0.02) and edema (p < 0.00005). Regarding social results, no significant differences betw een the two groups were found. Time until surgery, infection, or bone defect before free flap surgery did not alter the overall results sign ificantly. It is concluded that the long-term functional and social re sults after free tissue transfer are almost the same as those achieved after simple amputation. Because the median time until free flap surg ery in this series was 158 days, early limb-saving procedures could po ssibly improve the long-term results.