Annals of plastic surgery
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Annals of plastic surgery · Dec 2019
The Epidemiology of Upper Extremity Nerve Injuries and Associated Cost in the US Emergency Departments.
The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence and average cost of nerve injuries in patients presenting with upper extremity trauma. ⋯ While there was a low incidence of upper extremity nerve injuries associated with upper extremity trauma, the ulnar nerve was most frequently injured. Males were twice as likely to sustain a traumatic upper extremity nerve injury, with laceration being the most common mechanism of injury. The average ED cost associated with upper extremity nerve injuries in the United States was determined to be approximately $5779.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Dec 2019
Emergency Repair of Severe Limb Injuries With Free Flow-Through Chimeric Anterolateral Thigh Perforator Flap.
Complex limb trauma often involves both soft tissue and vascular defects, and is challenging for surgeons. The traditional musculocutaneous flap cannot achieve a 3-dimensional wound repair. Here we report our experience with a single-stage reconstruction and revascularization performed on complex extremity injuries using a free flow-through chimeric anterolateral thigh perforator (ALTP) flap. ⋯ The flow-through chimeric ALTP flap can be used for 1-stage reconstruction of 3-dimensional soft tissue defects and vascular gap. It is feasible for managing complex injuries of both the upper and lower extremities in emergency settings.