Aesthetic Refinements in Reconstructive Microsurgery of the Lower Leg

Christian Rainer; Anton H. Schwabegger; Alexander Gardetto; Thomas Schoeller; Heribert Hussl; Milomir M. Ninkovic

doi:10.1055/s-2004-820767

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2004; 20(2): 123-131
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820767

Aesthetic Refinements in Reconstructive Microsurgery of the Lower Leg

Christian Rainer¹ , Anton H. Schwabegger¹ , Alexander Gardetto¹ , Thomas Schoeller¹ , Heribert Hussl¹ , Milomir M. Ninkovic¹

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Quality Control in Plastic Surgery, Leopold-Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract

Even if a surgical procedure is performed for reconstructive and functional reasons, a plastic surgeon must be responsible for the visible result of the work and for the social reintegration of the patient; therefore, the aesthetic appearance of a microsurgically reconstructed lower leg must be considered. Based on the experience of 124 free-tissue transfers to the lower leg performed in 112 patients between January 1994 and March 2001 (110 [88.7 percent] were transferred successfully), three cases are presented. Considerations concerning flap selection and technical refinements in designing and tailoring microvascular flaps to improve the quality of reconstruction, also according to the aesthetic appearance, are discussed.

KEYWORDS

Aesthetic refinements - microsurgery - lower leg

Full Text

References

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