Results of reconstruction in major pelvic and extremity venous injuries

PURPOSE: Outcome and venous patency after reconstruction in major pelvic and extremity venous injuries was studied. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 46 patients with 47 venous injuries. RESULTS: Injuries were caused by penetrating trauma in 37 extremities, blunt trauma in 6 patients, and were iatrogenic in 4 patients. Pelvic veins were injured in 4 patients, lower-extremity veins were injured in 39 limbs in 38 patients, and upper-extremity veins were injured in 4 patients. Concomitant arterial injuries occurred in 37 patients. Venous repairs were mostly of the complex type and included spiral or panel grafts in 15 (32%) reconstructions, interposition grafts or patch venoplasty in 19 (40%) reconstructions, end-to-end and lateral repair in 11 patients, and ligation in 2 patients. Two patients underwent early amputation. Early transient limb edema occurred in 2 patients, and postoperative venous occlusions were documented in 4 patients. Full function was regained in 39 (81%) extremities. No variable, including 4 retrospectively applied extremity injury scores (mangled extremity severity score [MESS], limb salvage index [LSI], mangled extremity syndrome index [MESI], predictive salvage index [PSI]), correlated with outcome. High values on all 4 scores were significantly associated with reexplorations (P <.02), which were done in 8 patients for debridement (5), arrest of bleeding (2), and repair of a missed arterial injury (1). Follow-up of 28 +/- 6 months on 27 patients (57%; duplex scan in 18, continuous-wave Doppler and plethysmography in 9, and venography in 3) showed 1 occlusion 6 weeks after the injury and patency of all other venous reconstructions. CONCLUSION: Reconstructions of major venous injuries with a high rate of complex repairs result in a large proportion of fully functional limbs and a high patency rate. A high extremity injury score predicts the need for reexploration of the extremity. Mostocclusions occur within weeks of injury, and the subsequent delayed occlusion rate is very low.     

The management of unsalvageable free flaps

The loss of vascular flow in the early postoperative period will generally lead to free flap failure. When attempts at flap salvage are unsuccessful, conservative management with delayed flap debridement may be indicated. Seven unsalvageable free flaps were managed with observation and flap debridement 4 to 14 days following loss of vascular signals. At the time of debridement, six of the seven wounds had viable granulation tissue and were successfully closed with skin grafts. The seventh patient had loss of vascular flow to the free flap within 12 hr of surgery and, at the time of delayed debridement, had no evidence of granulation ingrowth. Local revascularization of flaps is known to occur and offers an explanation for these findings. Delayed debridement of unsalvageable free flaps is indicated for noncritical wounds, and may obviate the need for a second free-tissue transfer to obtain wound closure.     

Flap selection in cranial base reconstruction

We have compared our local, pedicled, and free-flap reconstructions for 90 skull base defects performed over the past 10 years. The pericranial flap was found to provide a reliable dural seal. Free-flap reconstructions exhibited a significantly higher incidence of uncomplicated primary wound healing (95 versus 62.5 percent) and a much lower incidence of flap loss (0 percent), cerebrospinal fluid leak (5 percent), meningitis, and abscess (0 percent) when compared with defects reconstructed with pedicled myocutaneous flaps. We conclude that microvascular free-tissue transfer is the safest, most economical procedure when faced with moderate to large composite defects of the cranial base.     

Volkmann's ischemic contracture of the upper extremity

Upper extremity deformity of ischemic contracture usually includes elbow flexion, forearm pronation, wrist flexion, thumb flexion and adduction, digital metacarpophalangeal joint extension, and interphalangeal joint flexion. Treatment of mild contractures consists of either nonoperative management with a comprehensive rehabilitation program (to increase range of motion and strenght) or operative management consisting of infarct excision or tendon lengthening. Treatment of moderate-to-severe contractures consists of release of secondary nerve compression, treatment of contractures (with tendon lengthening or recession), tendon or free-tissue transfers to restore lost function, and/or salvage procedures for the severely contracted or neglected extremity.     

Evaluation of optimal measuring site and index by QDR4500A for postmenopausal bone loss]

Adjuvant therapy and microsurgery have allowed advances in surgical extirpation of lower extremity neoplasms. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the microvascular transfer for lower extremity reconstruction in patients receiving pre- or post-operative irradiation and chemotherapy alone and in combination. Over a 5-year period, 24 free tissue transfers were performed in 22 patients undergoing surgical resection with adjuvant therapy for lower extremity neoplasms. There were 13 male and 9 female patients with an average age of 51 years. The latissimus dorsi muscle was most commonly transferred (N = 15). Eighteen tumors received pre- and three received postoperative radiotherapy. Two tumors received a combination of radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Pre- and/or postoperative chemotherapy was used in 14 patients. Twelve of these patients had both chemo- and radiation therapy. A total of six complications occurred, with no flap loss. Complications were evenly distributed among adjuvant regimens. All patients who underwent attempted limb salvage were able to ambulate postoperatively, except for 1 patients who had local recurrence. In conclusion, adjuvant therapy did not increase the complication rate for free tissue transfer in the lower extremity. Adjuvant therapy did not require alterations in the free tissue transfer and, similarly, free tissue transfer did not alter adjuvant therapy. We believe that free tissue transfer in complicated wounds allows for better wound healing with adjuvant therapy rather than local or primary wound closure alone.     

Infection after total elbow arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with the treatment of twenty-five infections (in twenty-five patients) after total elbow arthroplasty and to examine indications for salvage of the prosthesis compared with those for resection arthroplasty. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of treatment. Group I comprised fourteen patients who were managed with multiple, extensive irrigation and debridement procedures with retention of the original components. The primary indication for retention of the prosthesis was evidence that it was well fixed as determined both radiographically and intraoperatively. Group II comprised six patients who had removal of the prosthesis and debridement followed by immediate or staged reimplantation. Group III comprised five patients who were managed with resection arthroplasty. The infection was successfully eradicated in seven of the fourteen elbows that had salvage of the prosthesis with irrigation and debridement. The results were strongly dependent on the causative organism; attempts at debridement failed in the four elbows that were infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis compared with three of the ten that were infected with another organism. Four of the six patients in Group II had successful reimplantation of a prosthesis; in three, the infection had been caused by an organism other than Staphylococcus epidermidis. Only one of the three patients who had a Staphylococcus epidermidis infection had a successful reimplantation. None of the five patients who had a resection arthroplasty had signs of infection at the latest follow-up examination. We concluded that salvage of the prosthesis with extensive irrigation and debridement in the presence of an infection about the elbow can be reasonably successful if the infecting organism is not Staphylococcus epidermidis and if the components are well fixed. When removal of the components is warranted, staged reimplantation can also be highly successful when the infecting organism is not Staphylococcus epidermidis. However, the repeated operations necessary to retain a prosthesis and the high rates of complications seen with this approach--and the relatively good rates of satisfaction obtained with resection arthroplasty--suggest that resection arthroplasty remains the procedure of choice in medically frail patients or in patients for whom function of the elbow is less of a concern.     

Second free flaps in head and neck reconstruction

Over the past decade, free-tissue transfer has greatly improved the quality of oncology-related head and neck reconstruction. As this technique has developed, second free flaps have been performed for aesthetic improvement of the reconstructed site. This study evaluated the indications for and the success of second free flaps. Medical files for patients who underwent second free flaps for head and neck reconstruction at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, from May 1, 1988 to November 30, 1996, were reviewed. The flaps were classified as being either immediate (done within 72 hr) or delayed (done within 2 years) reconstructions. Indications, risk factors, recipient vessels, outcome, and complications were analyzed. Of the 28 patients included in this study, 12 had immediate (nine as salvage after primary free flap failure, and three for reconstruction of a soft-tissue defect), and 16 had delayed second free flaps (two for reconstruction of a defect resulting from excision of recurrent tumors, and 14 for aesthetic improvement). Reconstruction sites included the oral cavity in 18 patients; the midface in six; the skull base in two; and the scalp in two. The success rate for the second free flaps was 96 percent. Five patients had significant wound complications. In a substantial number of cases, identical recipient vessels were used for both the first and second free flaps. The authors conclude that second free flaps can play an important role in salvaging or improving head and neck reconstruction in selected patients. In many cases, the same recipient vessels can be used for both the first and second flaps.     

The functional outcome of lower-extremity fractures with vascular injury

Salvage of lower-extremity Gustilo type IIIC fractures is difficult, time-consuming for the patients and physicians, and not universally successful because of poor functional outcomes. Even if successful with limb salvage, the functional result may be unsatisfactory because of mutilating injuries to muscle and nerve, bone loss, and the presence of chronic infection. From July 1991 until July 1994, revascularizations of open IIIC fractures were attempted for wounds with Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) < or = 10. The functional results were evaluated at 2 years after injury. Thirty-six lower-extremity revascularizations were performed on 34 patients, including 1 patient with bilateral distal tibial IIIC fractures and a child with IIIC femoral fracture accompanied by ipsilateral distal tibial amputation. Excluded were patients with below-ankle IIIC fractures as well as patients who underwent immediate amputation at admission. After the revascularization, seven patients with IIIC fractures (7 of 36, 19.4%) underwent secondary amputation within 1 week. At the 2-year follow-up, the overall secondary amputation rate was 25% (9 of 36) and the salvage rate was 75% (27 of 36). Those were no deaths. Of the 29 salvaged limbs among these 27 patients, 23 limbs (23 of 29, 79.3%) required secondary coverage procedures that included 12 free flap transfers (12 of 29, 41.4%). Every patient needed subsequent reconstructive surgery to achieve an acceptable functional result. In this series, MESS was able to predict the secondary amputation rate and the functional result. Sixteen of the 17 limb-salvaged patients with MESS < or = 7 were able to achieve minimal functional requirements, whereas 3 of the 10 patients with MESS = 8 to 10 failed to achieve minimal functional requirements at the 2-year follow-up. Using statistical analysis, we found that the salvaged limbs with MESS < or = 9 exhibited a significant difference in achieving adequate function compared with limbs with MESS > 9. Using our protocol for treatment for IIIC fractures, the threshold for immediate amputation can be raised from MESS = 7 to MESS = 9. Our conclusions are (1) more severely injured limbs have poor functional results, (2) every patient needs subsequent reconstructive surgery, and (3) the MESS may be helpful in decision-making.     

Formation and migration of avian primordial germ cells

A retrospective review of 22 patients who sustained snowblower injuries to the hand was performed. There were 17 men and 5 women, ranging in age from 20 to 68 years (average age, 39.7 years). Fifty percent were manual laborers, 25% were unemployed, 15% were office workers, and 10% were not categorized. The dominant hand was involved in 86% of patients. In all patients, injuries occurred during an attempt to unclog manually the snowblower of wet snow. Patients were evaluated initially in the emergency room, where their wounds were irrigated and debrided, subungual hematomas drained, and nail bed lacerations repaired. Patients with more extensive injuries were taken to the operating room for definitive treatment including open or closed reduction of fractures, fingertip replacement as composite grafts or skin grafts, revision amputations, tenorrhaphies, and digital nerve repairs. All injuries occurred distal to the metacarpophalangeal joints. Only 1 patient sustained an injury to the proximal phalanx. Ten patients injured only 1 finger, 6 patients injured 2 fingers, and 6 patients injured 3 fingers. The middle and ring fingers were most commonly injured (39.6% and 33.3% respectively), followed by the index and little fingers (16.7% and 8.3% respectively), and the thumb (2.1%). Phalangeal fractures were the most common type of injury, occurring in 29.2% of patients, and usually involved the distal phalanx. This was followed in frequency by nail bed injuries (22.9%), amputations (22.9%), tendon lacerations (14.6%), soft-tissue avulsions (6.3%), and digital nerve injuries (4.2%). Snowblower injuries can involve bone, soft tissue, nail bed structures, nerves, and tendons, and may even result in amputation of one or several fingers. These injuries are localized to the distal portions of the fingers. The middle and ring fingers are most commonly involved, with relative sparing of the thumb. Fractures are the most frequent injury, followed by nail bed injuries and amputations. Snowblower injuries are often managed as open fractures with intravenous antibiotics; irrigation and debridement; and repair of bone, soft tissue, and nail bed structures.     

Primary muscle lymphoma: clinical and imaging findings

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical and imaging findings in primary muscle lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with biopsy-proved primary muscle lymphoma without evidence of systemic disease underwent imaging with plain radiography or computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Four underwent bone scintigraphy, and two underwent gallium scintigraphy and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) before and after therapy. RESULTS: Plain radiographs at initial examination (n = 5) showed no bone abnormalities. Soft-tissue masses and bone marrow involvement showed isoattenuation at CT (n = 3), but at MR imaging (n = 7), all masses demonstrated increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images that involved multiple muscle compartments and typically spanned a long segment of the extremity. Adjacent bone disease was less extensive than muscle disease, and, in most cases, subcutaneous stranding or extension was observed adjacent to the masses. Good size correlation was observed between findings at MR imaging, gallium scintigraphy, and FDG PET. Two patients developed recurrent multifocal muscle lymphoma several years after initial examination. CONCLUSION: The presence of an extensive soft-tissue mass with infiltration of adjacent subcutaneous fat and minimal or no extension into the bone marrow cavity at MR imaging and normal plain radiographic findings may suggest primary muscle lymphoma.     

Thrombophlebitis in the elderly

Treatment of the elderly patient can be significantly compromised by complications which are less troublesome in younger individuals. In the authors' experience this has been the case with septic thrombophlebitis secondary to intravenous infusion. Thirteen patients over 65 years of age presented with septic thrombophlebitis during the course of hospitalization for a variety of diseases. All infections occurred in an upper extremity site of polyethylene catheter insertion. Twenty-five per cent of patients had proven bacteremia and clinically recorded septicemia, with Staphylococcus aureus as the most common organism. Treatment consisted of either a full course of intravenous antibiotics or more commonly surgical therapy (either incision and drainage or resection of the involved vein). Three patients required extensive procedures including muscle debridement and fasciotomy. The mean hospital stay of 19 days was largely related to thrombophlebitis and not primary disease. There was one mortality. Prevention of this condition by meticulous attention to sites of intravenous infusion and frequent changing of these sites rather than treatment after the fact provides the safest mode of patient care.     

Successful microsurgical tissue transfer in a patient with postsplenectomy thrombocytosis treated with platelet-phoresis

With the use of platelet-phoresis, two microsurgical free-tissue transfers were successfully undertaken in a patient with postsplenectomy thrombocytosis that had initially caused flap failure. Rapid reduction in the platelet count allowed free-tissue transfer in this patient who required early wound coverage.     

Tourette''s syndrome: [I-123]beta-CIT SPECT correlates of vocal tic severity

Frostbite injuries have traditionally been treated with expectant observation. With the exception of early blister aspiration tissues are allowed to demarcate before definitive debridement is accomplished. Triple-phase bone scanning has been used to define the extent of fatally damaged tissues in an attempt to allow for early debridement and wound closure. We suggest extending this technology to assess injury and direct debridement in patients for whom early aggressive salvage attempts are indicated. We present two cases in which triple-phase scanning was used to direct early debridement for aggressive limb salvage with flap reconstruction. Bone, ligament, tendon, and nerve were preserved and covered with vascularized tissue before the onset of frank necrosis. Postoperative scans reveal revascularization of these tissues. An algorithm incorporating triple-phase scanning for the evaluation and treatment of frostbite is presented.     

Functional outcome after soft-tissue reconstruction for limb salvage after sarcoma surgery

Limb salvage has been achieved for patients with sarcoma by means of compartmental resection, soft-tissue reconstruction, and adjuvant therapy without increased rates of local recurrence, metastasis, or mortality. Despite the prevalence of limb salvage procedures in the treatment of these tumors, relatively little information has been published regarding late functional results in these reconstructed extremities. This study reports on the functional outcome for soft-tissue reconstruction for limb salvage in patients with sarcoma. Over the past 6 years, 28 patients were treated for sarcomas of the extremity in which soft-tissue reconstruction was needed for complete limb salvage. The mean age of these patients was 48 years (range, 14 to 83 years); there were 14 male and 14 female patients. Of the 28 sarcomas, 23 cases involved the lower extremity and 5 cases were in the upper extremity. Reconstruction was performed primarily in 12 patients; 16 reconstructions were performed secondarily because of wound complications after initial extirpation. Adjuvant radiation therapy was administered either preoperatively or postoperatively in all cases. Of the 33 reconstructive procedures performed in these 28 patients, 16 involved free flaps and 17 involved local flaps. All patients achieved initial limb salvage after the reconstructive procedure(s). Mean follow-up was 38 months. Twenty patients were available for the evaluation portion of the study. Two patients had delayed amputations: one for recurrent disease and another for osteoradionecrosis. Two patients died before beginning the examination process: one patient from the sarcoma and another patient from colon cancer. Twenty of the remaining 24 patients agreed to participate and were examined using the Enneking outcome measurement scale. Patients were examined for range of motion, deformity, stability, pain level, strength, functional activity, and emotional acceptance and assigned a numerical score for each category. Based on this, an overall rating of excellent, good, fair, or poor was assigned. Nine patients (45 percent) achieved an overall rating of excellent, five patients (25 percent) achieved a rating of good, and six patients (30 percent) achieved a fair score. None had received a rating of poor. There were no differences in the results obtained comparing upper versus lower extremity, immediate versus delayed reconstruction, or reconstructions performed with a free flap versus a pedicled flap. This study supports the continued use of soft-tissue reconstruction for limb salvage in sarcoma surgery with good to excellent late functional results obtained in the majority of patients.     

Necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene of the upper extremity

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, fulminant infection most commonly encountered in patients with diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, and intravenous drug abuse. The infection can spread-unrecognized along fascial planes beneath seemingly normal skin. The relatively benign appearance of the extremity is misleading and often results in delay in diagnosis and increased morbidity or death. Immediate aggressive surgical debridement through extensile incisions in combination with antibiotic therapy is necessary for control of these limb- and life-threatening, soft-tissue infections. Gas gangrene, or clostridial myonecrosis, is encountered commonly in those extremity wounds that involve devitalized or necrotic soft tissues. Clostridial microorganisms are anaerobes that produce local and systemic toxins. Delay in treatment can lead to hemolysis, renal failure, and death. Treatment consists of immediate wound debridement, intravenous antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Diabetic gangrene typically occurs in those diabetic patients with severe peripheral vascular or renal disease. The infections are usually polymicrobial. Treatment involves broad-spectrum antibiotics and multiple surgical debridements or amputation.     

A 3D kinematic method for evaluating voluntary movements of the cervical spine in humans

Progress in micro or macro replantation has resulted in higher survival rates of formerly amputated parts. More amputated digits or limbs survive because the time of ischemia can be exceeded by using cold storage or perfusion. Homo or heterodigital vessel transposition, expanded indications for vein graft interposition, as well as heterotopic transplantation allow for extremity preservation even in crush injuries, and in disastrous multiple amputations combined with contusion or avulsion. Secondary reconstruction with regard to bone defects, tendon repair, and eventual nerve grafting have to be aspired, finally leading to an improvement of functional results in daily and leisure activities as well as in early professional readaptation. A total of 114 microvascular extremity replantations/revascularizations with a survival rate of 77.2% were followed for an average of 15 years.     

The use of below-knee percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in arterial occlusive disease causing chronic critical limb ischemia

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy, safety and long-term results of crural artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in limbs with chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI). METHODS: Patients undergoing crural artery PTA due to CLI were followed at regular clinic visits with ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) measurements. PTA of the crural arteries was attempted either alone (n = 39) or in combination with PTA of the superficial and/or popliteal artery (n = 55) in 86 limbs (82 patients and 94 procedures) presenting with CLI. The ages of patients ranged from 37 to 94 years (mean 72 years). The indications for PTA were rest pain in 10 and ulcer/gangrene in 84 limbs. RESULTS: A technically successful PTA with at least one crural level was achieved in 88% of cases (n = 83). Cumulative primary clinical success rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 55%, 51%, 36%, and 36%, respectively. Cumulative secondary clinical success and limb salvage rates at 36 months were 44% and 72%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PTA of the crural arteries might be considered the primary choice of treatment in patients with CLI and distal lesions with localized stenosis or segmental short occlusions.     

Free revascularized jejunal loop repair following total pharyngolaryngectomy for carcinoma of the hypopharynx: report of 90 patients

Ninety patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx underwent pharyngolaryngectomy and reconstruction with a jejunal free autograft. Fifty-five patients had primary surgery and 35 salvage surgery for recurrence after radiotherapy. Following primary surgery 28 patients had postoperative radiotherapy and 27 did not. Complications occurred in 51 per cent of patients, the most common being necrosis of the jejunal graft (19 per cent); 12 per cent developed significant stenosis and 4 per cent died in the perioperative period. Eleven per cent of patients developed a fistula. The total number of complications diminished as the experience of the unit increased. Median follow-up was 4.9 years. Of patients treated with primary surgery, 48 per cent developed primary site recurrence (at 3 years) and 53 per cent neck node recurrence (at 5 years). The tumour-specific 5-year survival rate for all patients was 42 per cent. Following primary surgery 28 per cent survived for 5 years and after salvage surgery the rate was 59 per cent. Positive resection margins and extensive neck disease adversely affected survival (P = 0.02 and P = 0.001 respectively). The free revascularized jejunal graft is a safe and predictable method of repair following total pharyngolaryngectomy.     

Patient recovery after infrainguinal bypass grafting for limb salvage

PURPOSE: The outcome of infrainguinal bypass surgery for limb salvage has traditionally been assessed by graft patency rates, limb salvage rates, and patient survival rates. Recently, functional outcome of limb salvage surgery has been assessed by patient ambulatory status and independent living status. These assessments fail to consider the adverse long-term patient effects of delayed wound healing, episodes of recurrent ischemia, and need for repeat operations. An ideal result of infrainguinal bypass surgery for limb salvage includes an uncomplicated operation, elimination of ischemia, prompt wound healing, and rapid return to premorbid functional status without recurrence or repeat surgery. The present study was performed to determine how often this ideal result is actually achieved. METHODS: The records of 112 consecutive patients who underwent initial infrainguinal bypass surgery for limb salvage 5 to 7 years before the study were reviewed for operative complications, graft patency, limb salvage, survival, patient functional status, time to achieve wound healing, need for repeat operations, and recurrence of ischemia. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 66 years. The mean postoperative follow-up was 42 months (range, 0 to 100.1 months). After operation 99 patients (88%) lived independently at home and 103 (92%) were ambulatory. There were seven perioperative deaths (6.3%), and wound complications occurred in 27 patients (24%). By life table, the assisted primary graft patency and limb salvage rates of the index extremity 5 years after operation were 77% and 87%, respectively, and the patient survival rate was 49%. At last follow-up or death, 73% of the patients (72 of 99) who lived independently at home before the operation were still living independently at home, and 70% (72 of 103) of those who were ambulatory before the operation remained ambulatory. Wound (operative and ischemic) healing required a mean of 4.2 months (range, 0.4 to 48 months), and 25 patients (22%) had not achieved complete wound healing at the time of last follow-up or death. Repeat operations to maintain graft patency, treat wound complications, or treat recurrent or contralateral ischemia were required in 61 patients (54%; mean, 1.6 reoperations/patient), and 26 patients (23.2%) ultimately required major limb amputation of the index or contralateral extremity. Only 16 of 112 patients (14.3%) achieved the ideal surgical result of an uncomplicated operation with long-term symptom relief, maintenance of functional status, and no recurrence or repeat operations. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who undergo infrainguinal bypass surgery for limb salvage require ongoing treatment and have persistent or recurrent symptoms until their death. A significant minority have major tissue loss despite successful initial surgery. Clinically important palliation is frequently achieved by bypass surgery, but ideal results are distinctly infrequent.     

Spatial memory deficits following stimulation of hippocampal 5-HT1B receptors in the rat

The authors review the principles of reconstructive surgery for lower limb salvage after severe lower limb trauma to determine factors that have been used as decision-making criteria for limb salvage or amputation in severe lower extremity injuries and the methods of reconstruction and their outcome. The use of scoring systems and their value in acute decision making (primary amputation or limb salvage) are described. Soft-tissue reconstructive techniques, with emphasis on the use of flaps and the importance of selecting the best technique and time for the reconstruction are reviewed. Skeletal reconstructive techniques are described, including available options and currently held views on indications and use of the best contemporary methods. It is essential for the physician to make a good initial decision on the need for primary amputation or limb salvage. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental to successful salvage.