MANAGEMENT OF SOFT TISSUE DEFECTS AFTER VASCULAR RECONSTRUCTION IN TRAUMA PATIENTS

Abstract

Trauma to the extremities may cause vascular injuries and soft tissue loss of the overlying skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles. Such trauma may be penetrating trauma or blunt trauma and affects mainly males with age ranging from 20-40 years. In our study we found that blunt trauma, mainly motor car accident and falling from a height are the major cause of vascular injuries associated with soft tissue loss affecting the extremities, mainly the lower extremities which involved in 70% of cases.

It is very essential to repair the injured blood vessels as soon as possible to prevent long- standing ischaemia of the extremity affected and to stop the haemorrhage if present and this will help in limb salvage. After repair of the injured blood vessels, it is very essential to cover the repaired exposed blood vessels to prevent secondary haemorrhage and infection. This could be achieved mainly by using muscle flaps from the adjacent available muscles, which provide the best coverage of the important exposed structures and prevent the infection at the trauma site.