Preservation of lower extremity spare parts using the University of Wisconsin solution. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alnaif, Nayif; Lee, James; Azzi, Alain Joe; Aldekhayel, Salah; Zadeh, Teanoosh
• Is Part Of: SAGE open medical case reports. Volume 7(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Spare parts -- fillet flap -- University of Wisconsin solution -- lower extremity injury; Clinical medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.09
• DOI: 10.1177/2050313X18823438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-313X

Abstract

The management of a mangled limb is a challenging endeavor. With the advancement in microsurgery, spare parts surgery (fillet flaps) has gained recent interest. In the context of lower extremity amputation secondary to trauma, viable spare parts can provide stump soft tissue coverage, potentially preserving critical length and obviating above-knee amputations. Commonly, spare parts surgery is performed in the acute setting but tissue preservation is sometimes necessary. The authors report their experience preserving a fillet flap of a mangled lower extremity for 48 h using the University of Wisconsin solution. A sole fillet flap and a split-thickness skin graft were harvested and preserved from the amputated lower extremity (based on the posterior tibial artery and vein). Stump coverage was achieved by anastomosing the fillet flap to the proximal posterior tibial artery and vein. This solution has not been previously described for preservation of fillet flaps.