[Extensive skin losses of the upper limb]

The development of microsurgical techniques and of pedicled local flaps has improved the prognosis of major injuries of the upper limb. Pedicled muscle-skin flaps from the latissimus dorsi muscle allow repairing losses of substance in the arm-pit and arm while restoring the function of the elbow. In the forearm, the same flap, transferred by microsurgery, ensures the rehabilitation of the wrist and hand. In the hand, the Chinese and posterior interosseous flaps allow covering the losses of substance on both the palmar and the dorsal aspects. Here, the free flaps are used only if the palmar vascular arches of these interosseous anastomoses are affected. Lastly, remote flaps are required only for the contraindications of microsurgery. Thus, using this array of donor sites, the emergent replacement of the most complex losses of sin substance can be performed, thus fostering the repair and protection of fony, neurovascular and tendon lesions.