LOWER-LIMB TRAUMA - A REVIEW OF 40 CASES TREATED AT THE REGIONAL-BURNS-AND-PLASTIC-SURGERY-UNIT, MERSEYSIDE, ENGLAND

This is a review of 40 patients with lower limb trauma that required r econstruction, treated at Mersey Regional Plastic Surgery and Burns Ce ntre during the year 1989, 73% had bone involvement while there was so rt tissue injury only, in 27%, Seven patients (18%) had the affected l imb amputated, Of the rest, 6 were treated with skin grafts only, 13 w ith local flaps and 14 with free flap reconstruction. The soft tissue- healing time was least in patients who had free flaps, The time taken by skin and bone to heal and the average duration of hospitalisation w as also less in cases that had early management compared to those who had delayed and late treatment. Early reconstruction in severe lower l imb trauma is desirable and cost effective.