Emergency free flaps for the reconstruction of open injuries of the upper limb: A review

Debridement of all necrotic and contaminated tissues followed by immediate soft: tissue coverage in order to obtain primary healing is nowadays the standard approach to all open injuries of the extremities. In 1977 Foucher et al. introduced for the first time the concept of immediate treatment at one time of all injured tissues in complex traumas of the upper limb. The final goal of this therapeutic approach is early postoperative mobilization of the hand and of the whole upper extremity. Any delay in treatment will lead to higher risk of infection, to granulation tissue formation and extended fibrosis, reduced flap survival rate, longer hospital stay, late rehabilitation and eventually to …