[Limb reconstruction over four decades: the seamless path from technical integration to disciplinary ecology]

Against the backdrop of increasing subspecialization in medicine, the Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery has established itself as a crucial academic platform for clinical and basic research involving multidisciplinary integration, focusing on the interdisciplinary field of reparative and reconstructive surgery. The year 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the journal's founding. This article reviews its developmental trajectory and discusses the definition of limb reconstruction, the evolution of relevant academic societies, advancements in prosthetic technology, and the concept of extreme reconstruction. In its narrow sense, limb reconstruction addresses defects, infections, and deformities, while broadly, it encompasses comprehensive treatment requiring multidisciplinary collaboration. The evolution of international academic societies from the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) to International Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society (ILLRS) reflects both divergence and convergence in technical philosophies, with Chinese scholars playing a proactive role in this process. Advances in prosthetic technology, particularly in intelligent bionic prostheses and osseointegrated mechanoneural prostheses, have raised the standards for the precision of amputation surgeries and stump reconstruction, thereby fostering the development of the "maximum limb reconstruction" philosophy. This philosophy emphasizes a coherent three-stage approach (early, intermediate, and late) that integrates microsurgery, Ilizarov techniques, infection control, and soft tissue repair to achieve optimal restoration of structure, function, and morphology. By concentrating on multidisciplinary integration, the Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery has contributed significantly to the development of a limb reconstruction system with Chinese characteristics and is poised to continue leading progress in technological integration and academic innovation within this field.