Dead Space Management After Orthopaedic Trauma: Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Plastic Surgery
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Dead space, a tissue void after necrosis or debridement, poses reconstruction challenges.
• Common causes include high-energy trauma, infection, and nonviable tissue removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated overview of managing osseous and soft tissue defects.
• To focus on assessment, provisional management, reconstruction, and infection-related challenges.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current state-of-the-art and recent advances.
• Focus on clinical management strategies for dead spaces.

Main Results:

• Comprehensive strategies for initial dead space assessment are discussed.
• Various techniques for definitive osseous and soft tissue reconstruction are presented.
• Specific considerations for managing dead spaces in infected environments are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of dead spaces requires a systematic approach from assessment to definitive reconstruction.
• Addressing infection is critical for successful outcomes in dead space management.