History and Evolution of Lower Extremity Salvage

There has been a paradigm shift in the management of lower extremity injury from amputations to more complex limb salvage techniques. Despite advancements in orthopedic surgery, trauma surgery, plastic surgery, and vascular surgery, not every patient is a candidate for complex lower extremity limb salvage. For this reason, novel advancements in plastic and reconstructive surgery have targeted not only limb salvage but also functional amputations. Here we review the history and advancements in microsurgical limb salvage and lower extremity amputation to discern how today's surgeon can better aid this population.