Keywords
trauma - upper extremity reconstruction - end to side anastomosis
Osteocutaneous flap reconstruction of large bony defects following Gustillo IIIB extremity
trauma remains challenging. These injuries can be complicated by a large zone of injury
resulting in limited recipient sites for microvascular anastomosis. Furthermore, a
contaminated field and devitalized muscle and soft tissue often necessitates staged
debridement to prevent osteomyelitis. The fibula remains the gold standard for vascularized
reconstruction of large bone gaps due to its consistent anatomy, ample bone stock,
and ability to remodel following integration. In the context of significant soft tissue
damage inherent to some Gustillo IIIB injuries however, the free fibula is limited
by the size and bulk of its cutaneous portion. In these cases, a second free flap
is often required to resurface the soft tissue defect. Ideally, anastomoses are performed
to healthy, uninjured recipient vessels outside the zone of injury.
The following case describes the salvage of a severely mangled Guistillo's IIIB upper
extremity injury with inadequate recipient vessels for anastomosis due to the extensive
zone of injury. As such, both free flaps were anastomosed in an end-to-side fashion
to the brachial artery, which was the sole blood supply to the distal extremity.
Case Presentation
A 36-year-old male fell asleep at the wheel with his left arm out the window and was
involved in a head-on motor vehicle collision. He presented to the trauma bay with
multiple musculoskeletal injuries including left Gustillo's IIIB radius, ulna, and
distal humerus fractures ([Fig. 1]), as well as a left fifth metacarpal fracture, left fibula fracture, and sternal
fracture. All injuries with the exception of the severe left elbow injury were deemed
nonoperative and managed conservatively. His past medical history was unremarkable
other than a pack per day smoking history.
Fig. 1 (A) Left arm X-ray upon presentation to the emergency room. (B) Soft tissue defect following second irrigation and debridement.
The patient underwent irrigation and debridement of his contaminated and highly comminuted
left elbow fracture the day of admission and an external fixator was applied. The
crush injury was noted to have a wide zone of injury with devitalized tissue requiring
staged muscle and skin debridement. The comminuted proximal ulnar fragments were found
to be devitalized and eventually replaced with a cement spacer as a first stage Masquelet's
technique. This was followed by reduction and internal fixation of radius and humerus
fractures. The large resulting soft-tissue defect was temporized with a vacuum-assisted
device. The plastic surgery service was eventually consulted for soft tissue closure,
as well as vascularized bone reconstruction of the 10-cm ulna defect.
The patient was subsequently brought to the operating room for a right free fibula
osteocutaneous flap and ALT fasciocutaneous flap reconstruction of the wound. Considering
the extensive and circumferential zone of trauma, in addition to the lack of robust
collateral flow, a decision was made to perform two end-to-side anastomoses into the
brachial artery. A frank discussion with the patient preoperatively disclosed the
potential for both free flap failure and subsequently upper extremity amputation.
Both ALT and free fibular flaps were elevated in an unremarkable fashion. As expected,
recipient site dissection at the level of the elbow revealed no suitable collateral
vessels for end–to-end anastomosis. Furthermore, clamping of the brachial artery clearly
demonstrated no distal flow to the extremity. Both flaps were therefore inset within
the zone of injury directly into the brachial artery in an end-to-side fashion. The
lateral circumflex femoral artery anastomosis was performed 2-cm proximal to the peroneal
artery anastomosis with the two venae comitantes coupled to the cephalic vein. Venous
outflow from the fibular flap was supplied by a branch of the brachial vein ([Fig. 2]). Clamps was then removed and vascularity restored to the distal extremity. The
patient tolerated the procedure very well and both donor and recipient sites healed
with no complication ([Figs. 3] and [4]). He was discharged form hospital at postoperative day 10.
Fig. 2 Intraoperative photograph of the left upper extremity (left distal, right proximal).
The left yellow arrow marks the pedicle to the fibular flap and the right yellow arrow
the pedicle to the anterolateral thigh flap. The peroneal artery is anastomosed end
to side into the brachial artery (left white arrow) and the associated vein was coupled
end to end to a branch of the brachial vein. The descending branch of the lateral
circumflex femoral artery is anastomosed end to side 2-cm proximal to the first anastomosis
on the brachial artery and its two venae comitantes coupled to the cephalic vein.
Fig. 3 (A) Intraoperative photo following fasciocutaneous ALT and osteocutaneous fibular flap
reconstruction (B) Clinical photograph at 6-month postoperatively. ALT, anterolateral thigh.
Fig. 4 X-ray following fibular and ALT flap reconstruction. ALT, anterolateral thigh.
Discussion
Advances in surgical technique have led to increased limb salvage rates following
severe extremity trauma. The reconstruction of these complex and often contaminated
wounds usually requires temporizing external fixation and staged washouts to obtain
a clean recipient site for soft tissue reconstruction. Microvascular free flaps have
revolutionized the armamentarium for extremity reconstruction and broadened indications
for limb salvage. Despite being the mainstay of lower extremity reconstruction, however,
it is well known that these flaps have higher microsurgical complication rates compared
with any other part of the body.[1] Furthermore, the more severe the extremity trauma, the higher the rate of free flap
complication.[2] The timing of flap reconstruction remains controversial but is typically performed
within the first two weeks of injury.[3]
[4]
[5]
[6] Bone gap management requires either cancellous or vascularized bone grafting depending
on the size of the defect. While distraction osteogenesis and Masquelet techniques[7] have been used effectively for management of large boney defects, vascularized fibula
flap reconstruction remains the gold standard for bone gaps over 6 cm.[8]
[9] Soft-tissue reconstruction may use either muscle or fasciocutaneous free flaps,
the choice of which is largely surgeon dependent as outcomes are comparable with each.[10]
One of the major challenges is attaining healthy recipient vessels outside the zone
of injury for anastomosis.[11] It has been shown that, even in the context of a Gustillo's IIIB injury where there
is no major vessel injury threatening the viability of the limb, general arterial
damage in the zone of trauma itself increases the complication rate of free flap reconstruction.[12] While the use of vein grafts can provide additional length to perform the anastomosis
outside the zone of injury, they require further dissection, increase operating time
and may even increase the risk for flap thrombosis.[13]
[14]
[15] There is thought to be no difference in outcomes when anastomoses are performed
proximal versus distal to the zone of injury.[12]
[16]
[17] In the context of lower extremity trauma, two venous anastomoses are thought to
be superior than one, with some authors noting a four-fold reduction in complications.[18] Multiple studies have demonstrated no difference in anastomosis patency rate between
end-to-end and end-to-side anastomoses.[19]
[20]
[21]
The presented case illustrates the challenges plastic surgeons face in the context
of a severe Guistillo's IIIB crush injury with a large bone defect. The extensive
zone of trauma either requires anastomosis within the zone of injury, where there
are limited recipient vessels or, alternatively, large vein grafts to reach outsize
the zone of injury. Considering the known increase in flap complication rate with
vein grafts and the fact that multiple long vein grafts would have been required to
perform anastomoses outside the zone of injury, the authors of the present case considered
end-to-side anastomoses to a single vessel arm within the zone of injury. The rationale
was that the brachial artery's large caliber and high-pressure system would be less
likely to be spastic and thrombose within the zone of injury compared with the small
and severely traumatized collateral branches, especially considering the patient's
heavy smoking history. The present case illustrates that this technique can be used
safely and effectively. Having said this, these injuries continue to be approached
on a case-by-case basis, paying specific attention to both patient and injury-specific
factors.
