[Role of microvascular free flaps in the treatment of amputation stumps]

The authors report the importance of plastic surgery in rehabilitation of the amputated stump. After having referred the tight dependence between amputated stump and prosthesis, they underline the importance of a trophic and painless stump characterized by a satisfactory "useful length". They report two cases in which these priorities have been satisfied by using latissimus dorsi free flap. The authors believe that better rehabilitative results can be achieved by applying the most recent techniques utilized in plastic surgery and particularly microvascular free flaps.