Salvage of avascular bone from frostbite with free tissue transfer

Traditional management of frostbite injury of the hands and fingers has bee n to allow demarcation to occur between viable and nonviable tissues, corre sponding to the level of amputation required. In this case report, phalange al length in mummified digits was maintained with free tissue transfer foll owed by evidence of bony revascularization on bone scan. Rather than waitin g for tissue demarcation to occur, the authors propose that consideration b e given to debridement of soft tissues in the frostbitten fingers followed by free tissue transfer to salvage length and function in the digital bony skeleton.