A decade of conflict: flap coverage options and outcomes in traumatic war-related extremity reconstruction.

Background: War trauma patients who have sustained extremity trauma often exhibit extensive zones of injury with multiple concomitant injuries that can contribute to limited coverage options. Thus, flap availability and choice can become critical in the reconstruction algorithm of these severely traumatized patients. The authors' purpose was to analyze the outcomes of muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps during their extremity reconstructive experience to determine which option had better flap and limb salvage outcomes.

Multiple limbs salvaged using tissue transfers in the same casualty: a cohort comparison study chronicling a decade of war-injured patients.

Background: Extremity battlefield injuries from Operation Iraq and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) requiring multiple limbs salvaged with tissue transfers in the same patient are an understudied population. This study aimed to report the limb salvage outcomes in patients requiring multiple flap procedures for two or more concurrent extremity injuries.

Methods: A retrospective cohort comparison of warfare-related extremity injuries treated for limb salvage from 2003 through 2012 at the National Capital Consortium was completed.

Evaluation of a new 4-strand flexor tendon repair in a cadaveric porcine model.

Purpose: Numerous flexor tendon repairs have been described. The ideal core flexor tendon repair optimizes strength characteristics while minimizing factors felt to contribute to adhesion formation. The present study compares ultimate tensile strength, gap strength, and surgical time in the Lahey repair, a new 4-strand flexor tendon repair, to 2 previously described techniques.

Physicochemical properties of perfluorochemical liquids influence ventilatory requirements, pulmonary mechanics, and microvascular permeability during partial liquid ventilation following intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the physicochemical properties of perfluorochemical liquid used in partial liquid ventilation can influence ventilatory requirements, pulmonary mechanics, microvascular permeability, and vasoactive mediator release in the abnormal lung.

Design: Prospective, controlled animal study.

Setting: Research laboratory in a university setting.