Neo-Forearm Functional Reconstruction after Temporary Ectopic Hand Implantation for Salvage of Hand after Extensive Crush Injury to Forearm

Abstract

Background Extensive crush injuries to forearm pose a unique problem where replantation of uninjured hands to the forearm is not immediately possible due to difficulties in delineating tissue necrosis. Ectopic hand implantation preserves the hand and allows replanting the hand back to the forearm stump, but the tissues preserved in the stump could be inadequate to provide good hand function. In these subsets of cases, forearm reconstruction with composite flaps may offer a better chance of getting good hand function.

Keywords

• hand
• replantation
• free tissue transfer