Abstract
Reports of varicosities developing in free flaps are very rare. The presence of varicose veins in recipient sites influencing the development of varicosities in free flaps, though physiologically possible, has not been documented in literature. We encountered an unusual case of varicosities developing in a free radial forearm flap used in soft-tissue reconstruction of an open distal-third tibial fracture, which is presented here. This case report thus adds an important dimension to the assessment of a patient when planning a free flap procedure in a recipient area with pre-existing varicosities.
Copyright © 2011 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
-
Accidents, Traffic
-
Combined Modality Therapy
-
Follow-Up Studies
-
Forearm / blood supply
-
Forearm / surgery
-
Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
-
Fractures, Open / diagnostic imaging
-
Fractures, Open / surgery*
-
Humans
-
Leg Injuries / diagnostic imaging
-
Leg Injuries / surgery
-
Male
-
Middle Aged
-
Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
-
Postoperative Complications / etiology
-
Postoperative Complications / surgery
-
Radiography
-
Radius Fractures / diagnostic imaging
-
Radius Fractures / surgery
-
Rare Diseases
-
Reoperation / methods
-
Risk Assessment
-
Surgical Flaps / adverse effects*
-
Surgical Flaps / blood supply*
-
Tibial Fractures / diagnostic imaging
-
Tibial Fractures / surgery
-
Treatment Outcome
-
Ultrasonography, Doppler
-
Varicose Veins / diagnostic imaging
-
Varicose Veins / etiology*
-
Varicose Veins / surgery*