A Quantitative Evaluation of Functional Recovery after Traumatic Lower Extremity Salvage.

INTRODUCTION: Soft tissue reconstruction is a routine component of lower extremity trauma care and focus is increasingly being directed towards understanding functional outcomes. This study aims to quantify functional recovery and identify variables associated with functional outcomes of patients who undergo traumatic limb salvage. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients with lower extremity traumatic injuries requiring vascularized soft tissue reconstruction at a Level 1 trauma center between July 2007-December 2015. Postoperatively, patients were administered the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) questionnaires by telephone. Demographics, perioperative variables, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed by univariate and bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with 42 flaps and a mean of 12.7 months follow up were included in the study. Limb salvage was successful in 38 patients (90.5%). Patients ≥ 40 years old had significantly worse SF-36v2 scores in physical functioning (P ≤0.01) and mental health (P ≤0.05) than their younger counterparts. Patients who had pre-existing hypertension demonstrated significantly lower physical functioning (P ≤0.01). Role limitation due to emotional health was significantly lower in patients who were female (P ≤0.01) or required revision surgery (P ≤0.01). The mean LEFS score was 37.7 ± 18.5. CONCLUSIONS: Patients exhibited poor functional outcomes following major limb trauma with attempted limb salvage based on two validated patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs). Patient characteristics should be considered in evaluating candidates for reconstruction to optimize outcomes and to effectively counsel patients on their functional prognosis.

The Efficacy of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Antibiotic Beads in Lower Extremity Salvage.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic beads and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) represent two methods of wound management used during staged debridement in the post-trauma limb salvage pathway. The efficacy of NPWT and antibiotic beads in preventing infection remains unclear. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of patients with traumatic lower extremity open fractures who received NPWT and/or antibiotic beads before soft tissue reconstruction at an urban level 1 trauma center between August 2007 and December 2015. Patients with wound infections before application of NPWT and/or antibiotic beads were excluded. RESULTS: In 73 lower extremities requiring soft tissue coverage, 46 received antibiotic beads and 48 received NPWT. Overall infection rate was 15.1%. Use of antibiotic beads was associated with a decreased risk of infection (6.4% versus 30.7%; P = 0.01). Use of NPWT was associated with an increased risk of one or more complications (45.7% versus 4.2%; P = 0.001). The development of infection was associated with a greater period of time between application of antibiotic beads (22 ± 13 versus 12 ± 6 d, P = 0.01) or NPWT (23 ± 15 versus 10 ± 11 d, P = 0.004) and soft tissue coverage. Overall limb salvage rate was 95.9%; secondary amputation was associated with development of infection (P = 0.001) but not with use of NPWT or antibiotic beads. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic beads may prevent infections in patients awaiting soft tissue coverage of wounds. NPWT may contribute to a greater rate of complication. Limb salvage was successful in most cases regardless of method of wound management.

Soft tissue reconstruction and salvage of infected fixation hardware in lower extremity trauma.

BACKGROUND: Tibial fracture management may be complicated by infection of internal fixation hardware (iIFH) resulting in increased morbidity and amputation rate. When iIFH removal is not possible, salvage of the lower extremity is attempted through debridement, antibiotics, and vascularized soft tissue coverage. This study investigates lower extremity salvage with retention of iIFH. METHODS: Demographics, outcomes, and bacterial speciation in patients with tibial fractures at a level 1 trauma center from 2007 to 2014 were reviewed. The primary outcome was infection suppression, while secondary outcomes included limb salvage, amputation, and osseous union. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction for salvage of iIFH. Average age was 41, 19 (76%) were male, average BMI 30.1 kg/m2 , 10 (40%) patients smoked. Tibial fractures were closed in 8 (32%), Gustilo-Anderson grade I in 1 (4%), II in 8 (32%), IIIb in 5 (20%), and IIIc in 1 (4%). Staphylococcus was most commonly cultured with 11 (44%) demonstrating methicillin-resistance. Soft tissue reconstruction was performed by local flap in 15 (60%) and free flap in 10 (40%). At an average of 16.1 months, 19 (76%) hardware salvage patients demonstrated clinical suppression of infection, 11 of 19 (57.9%) patients had bony union, and 24 (96%) maintained a salvaged limb. One patient was amputated for recurrent infection. CONCLUSIONS: Following complex, infected tibial fractures, salvage of the lower extremity may be attempted even when iIFH cannot be removed. Thorough debridement, antibiotics, and vascularized soft tissue may suppress infection long enough to facilitate osseous union and subsequent removal of iIFH.

Functional outcomes of traumatic lower extremity reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity trauma accounts for over 300,000 injuries annually. While soft tissue transfer is a well-accepted practice for open fracture coverage, functional outcomes remain unclear. HYPOTHESIS: This study investigates functional outcomes following soft tissue reconstruction for open tibial fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of open tibia fractures requiring soft tissue reconstruction was performed at an urban level 1 trauma center between October 2013 and March 2015. OUTCOMES: were evaluated using Pearson's chi square test with significant p value < 0.05. RESULTS: In 30 patients, fractures were graded Gustilo-Anderson type I (3.3%), 30% type II, 3.3% type IIIa, 53.3% type IIIb, and 10% type IIIc. Fixation was 56.7% plate and screw, 20% intramedullary nail, and 16.7% external fixator. Definitive closure was achieved in 43.3% through local rotational flap (38.5% gastrocnemius, 61.5% soleus), and in 56.7% by free tissue transfer (29.4% latissimus, 23.5% rectus, 17.6% ALT, 17.6% gracilis). In 10 patients, 70% returned to full ambulation, 30% required an assistance device, and 50% achieved union in 6 months. Local flap use was predictive of ambulation at discharge. DISCUSSION: Following lower extremity fracture, 70% of patients returned to pre-injury function. Use of a local tissue flap was associated with early ambulation.

Outcomes of Soft Tissue Reconstruction for Traumatic Lower Extremity Fractures with Compromised Vascularity.

Traumatic lower extremity fractures with compromised arterial flow are limb-threatening injuries. A retrospective review of 158 lower extremities with traumatic fractures, including 26 extremities with arterial injuries, was performed to determine the effects of vascular compromise on flap survival, successful limb salvage and complication rates. Patients with arterial injuries had a larger average flap surface area (255.1 vs 144.6 cm2, P = 0.02) and a greater number of operations (4.7 vs 3.8, P = 0.01) than patients without vascular compromise. Patients presenting with vascular injury were also more likely to require fasciotomy [odds ratio (OR): 6.5, confidence interval (CI): 2.3-18.2] and to have a nerve deficit (OR: 16.6, CI: 3.9-70.0), fracture of the distal third of the leg (OR: 2.9, CI: 1.15-7.1) and intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 3.84, CI: 1.1-12.9). After soft tissue reconstruction, patients with arterial injuries had a higher rate of amputation (OR: 8.5, CI: 1.3-53.6) and flap failure requiring a return to the operating room (OR: 4.5, CI: 1.5-13.2). Arterial injury did not correlate with infection or overall complication rate. In conclusion, arterial injuries resulted in significant complications for patients with lower extremity fractures requiring flap coverage, although limb salvage was still effective in most cases.

Patient and Surgical Factors Contributing to Perioperative Infection in Complex Lower Extremity Trauma.

Infections in the traumatized lower extremity are a significant source of morbidity and expense. Outcomes after vascularized soft tissue reconstruction were analyzed to determine impact on infection rates. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed, including 114 trauma patients requiring soft tissue reconstruction of lower extremity injuries at an urban Level I tertiary referral center from 2008 to 2015. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. After trauma, 39 (34.2%) patients developed wound infections, of which 74.4 per cent of infections occurred before soft tissue coverage. Isolated lower extremity injury yielded a 4-fold increase in the incidence of infection. Infection rates doubled in patients who smoked, sustained a fall, had a proximal third of the lower leg wound, or underwent external fixation. Comorbid diabetes, underlying fracture, and wound size were not predictive of infection. Overall, there was a 97.4 per cent rate of limb salvage after soft tissue reconstruction. In patients with infection before soft tissue reconstruction, a salvage rate of 96.6 per cent was achieved. Soft tissue reconstruction in the traumatized and infected lower extremity resulted in high limb salvage success rates, demonstrating vascularized tissue transfer in lower extremity injuries is effective in treating lower extremity infection.