Upper Limb

Reconstruction to the upper limb may involve:

Local flap reconstruction

The use of the “next best skin” being the next best skin. Flaps can be mobilised from adjacent tissue as pivot, advancement or interpolation flaps.

Regional flap reconstruction

Reliable tissue can be transferred based on the vascular pedicles of the upper limb. This tissue is used to resurface areas of tissue loss.

Distant flap reconstruction

Areas adjacent to the upper limb can be used to resurface larger defects in the upper limb. Such areas include the groin, abdomen and chest. These techniques may involve 2 staged operations.

Free flap reconstruction

More complex defects require the use of free tissue transfer. This is where a reliable block of tissue is moved from one area to another and its blood supply is restored using microsurgical techniques.

Revascularisation and replantation

Microsurgical reconstruction is used to restore a blood supply to a region when it has been divided (e.g. severed digit), or to restore blood flow when interrupted by trauma (e.g. crush injury).