Double microvascular free flap reconstruction for bilateral lower extremity injury in a paediatric patient

Many challenges have been described by microsurgeons in paediatric free flaps. With the advancement in microsurgical expertise, it is now possible to achieve excellent results. We present a case of a female child with car-tyre friction injury of bilateral feet with associated extradural haemorrhage who underwent emergency bilateral anterolateral thigh flap. A secondary tendon reconstruction of the left foot was performed at 6 months. No complications were observed in the postoperative period after both procedures and good functional recovery was achieved at 1 year follow-up. The problems unique to this case were the presence of head injury and bilateral extremity injury in the paediatric patient. The technical details of planning, execution, difficulties and recommendations to minimise the risk in such cases are discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only case report of bilateral lower limb paediatric emergency free flap with associated head injury.