[The use of free flaps for upper and lower extremities (author's transl)]

Reconstructive procedure of the upper and the lower limbs by free flaps are presented. The most frequently used donor sites are analysed in order to make a choice according to their characteristics and their reliability. Attention is drawn to the fact that these new procedures bringing cutaneous, muscular, osseous or composite tissues are especially interesting in reconstruction of the distal half of the limbs but will not systematically replace the classical reconstructive surgery procedures. The donor sites are summarized in a recapitulatory table.