Introduction The reconstructive microsurgeon is often consulted for management of lower extremity bone and soft tissue defects. Defects can arise from multiple causes, including trauma, oncologic resection, infection, or pre-existing vascular disease. By far, trauma is the most common etiology…
Introduction Reconstructive microsurgery of the upper extremity requires detailed knowledge of the regional anatomy of the arm, forearm and hand. Specific familiarity with the anatomy of the neurovascular structures allows safer, more expeditious flap elevation and recipient vessel exposure. This…
Introduction Reconstruction of the torso is a broad topic, which in and of itself includes techniques of local tissue rearrangement, skin grafting, local and regional flaps, as well as complex microsurgical reconstruction. The defects to be reconstructed are equally diverse…
Introduction Head and neck reconstruction presents unique challenges to the reconstructive surgeon. Because of the visibility of this region, defects are often difficult to conceal and the demands on the surgeon's reconstructive skills are greater than they are elsewhere in…
Introduction In recent years, robotic surgery has grown to dominate minimally invasive applications in the various surgical subspecialties. The currently available robotic surgical platform (da Vinci, Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) consists of two integrated subsystems: a surgeon console and a…
Introduction Up until recently, lymphedema has largely remained on the sidelines of microsurgery. For many years, most microsurgeons avoided lymphatic reconstruction because of inconsistent results, lack of published data, and concerns regarding safety in a poorly understood disease process. Fortunately,…
Introduction “Don't cut what you don't see!” This rule mandates large incisions and wide open surgical exposure to safely dissect aponeurotomic fibers and release restrictive scars or fascial structures. “Borrow from Peter to pay Paul.” This fundamental principle of flap…
Introduction Tissue engineering represents an interdisciplinary field, a forum where the principles of biomaterial engineering, the molecular biology of cells and genes, and the clinical sciences interact intensively through the combined efforts of scientists, engineers, and clinicians. Tissue engineering attempts…
Introduction Flap prefabrication and prelamination are distinct techniques designed to address complex reconstructive needs. While these techniques are generally not primary reconstructive options, their usage has increased in response to demands for more sophisticated reconstructive efforts. In reconstructive surgery, a…
Introduction In recent years, surgeons have taken advantage of various technologies to aid in microvascular free flap reconstructions. In this chapter, we discuss the use of virtual surgical planning and rapid prototype modeling for use in craniofacial reconstructions with vascularized…