Combining traditional and microsurgical reconstruction after a complex hand trauma with multiple tissue defects. A...

Complex injuries involving bones, tendons and soft tissues of the hand still represent a difficult challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Hereby, we present a case of a man suffering from a complex crush injury of the right hand that led to a wide three-dimensional defect with loss of two metacarpal bones, extensor tendons and skin. For composite hand defects, the most common surgical approach provides for a one-stage composite reconstruction or for an early restoration of bone and skin, with delayed tendon grafts. For the peculiarity of the defect, a one-stage reconstruction was not feasible. Hence, we opted for a two-stage reconstruction but the usual surgical steps have been inverted. First we secured tendon and skin restoration through a composite teno-cutaneous radial free flap. A month later, we reconstructed the two metacarpals with a modified Masquelet technique using fibular cortical graft. This strategy allowed the patient to start an early rehabilitation program and obtain a satisfactory recovery of his dominant hand. KEY WORDS: Composite flap, Hand trauma, Hand reconstruction, Microsurgery.