Magnitude of Soft-Tissue Defect as a Predictor of Free Flap Failures: Does Size Matter?

Objectives: To examine the relationship between the magnitude of soft-tissue defect and the risk of free-flap and limb-salvage complications/failures.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Level I Trauma Center.

Osteosynthesis of AO/OTA 13-C3 distal humeral fractures in patients older than 70 years.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective case series was to examine the AO Foundation and Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) 13-C3 distal humeral fractures treated with open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF) in patients older than 70 years.

Methods: During an 8-year period, 21 patients older than 70 years with AO/OTA 13-C3 distal humeral fractures were treated with ORIF performed by 2 senior upper extremity traumatologists. There were 16 patients with >1 year of follow-up, with a mean age of 78 (70-84) years.

Extensor Digitorum Brevis Flap for the Coverage of Ankle and Dorsal Foot Wounds: A Technical Trick.

Soft tissue wounds overlying the dorsum of the foot and ankle are difficult to treat, and historically have been treated with free tissue transfer. Advances in surgical technique have expanded the use of pedicle perforator flaps to avoid free tissue transfer in certain situations. The authors describe a technique for using an extensor digitorum brevis flap to provide soft tissue coverage for wounds of the ankle and foot.