Reconstructive Surgery of the Upper Extremity
This refers to the branch of reconstructive surgery that restores the coverage, form, or function of the upper extremity. There are many causes that may require reconstructive surgery for treatment, the most frequent being traumatic, although infectious, tumorous, congenital, iatrogenic, etc., can also occur. The main pathologies treated are:
Applications of Reconstructive Surgery in the Upper Extremity
Reconstructive microsurgery is used in a variety of complex hand surgery cases, such as:
Hand and Wrist Surgery
This involves the treatment of any pathology of any origin affecting this area. A wide range of techniques are employed, from flap surgery to minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery.
Upper Extremity Coverage
A cover defect may be present secondary to trauma, previous surgeries, infections, burns, etc. Reconstructive surgery addresses this defect by combining skin grafts with local, locoregional, and free flaps.
Bone Reconstruction
Due to infections or previous trauma, a bone defect may be present. Using bone flaps and microsurgery, the bone defect can be reconstructed, restoring the limb to normal function.
Pseudoarthrosis
Sometimes, when treating a fracture, it does not heal properly; this is known as pseudoarthrosis. Its origin can be multiple (infectious, mechanical, vascular, etc.). The use of bone flaps increases the likelihood of pseudoarthrosis healing compared to traditional bone grafts.
Nerve Surgery
Nerve injuries are common at this level, having a significant impact on upper limb function and patients' quality of life. Reconstructive surgery can often be used to reconstruct the affected nerve and restore lost function, combining different nerve surgery techniques (nerve grafts, nerve transfers, etc.) and palliative surgery techniques (tendon transfers, osteotomies, arthrodesis, etc.).
Functional Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive surgery procedures can often be used to restore lost function to the upper limb following injuries (usually muscle or nerve injuries). These procedures may include tendon transfers, free functional muscle transfers, etc.
Pain Surgery
Sometimes, debilitating pain can occur in the upper limb after trauma or previous surgery. These problems are often difficult to diagnose and are sometimes misdiagnosed with conditions such as Sudeck's syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, etc. In many cases, there are treatable causes of this pain, such as painful neuromas, malunions, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, instabilities, etc.
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