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RACS ASC 2025
Concurrent free tissue reconstruction and targeted muscle innervation in extremity traumatic amputation stumps: case series and literature review
Poster
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Poster

Disciplines

Trauma Surgery

Presentation Description

Institution: Royal Melbourne Hospital - VIC, Australia

Management of the acute traumatic extremity amputation stump is multifaceted, with considerations including length preservation, soft tissue coverage, osseous stability and functional reinnervation. Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is quickly becoming standard of care in stump care through prevention of end-neuromas / neuropathic pain as well as laying foundations for future potential myoelectric prosthesis. When free tissue and TMR are required concurrently, the techniques can be utilized to complement one another to maximize surgical efficiency. 2 identified categories for “free flap TMR”: -Conventional free flap coverage of standard TMR coaptations/targets and native stump elements without stump nerve to flap coaptation -Innervated free muscle or myocutaneous flap with neurotization of flap muscle target by stump nerve Our 4 patient case series demonstrates 2 of each of the above, including a myocutaneous ALT with TMR to vastus lateralis branch for a transradial amputation and a “spare part” forearm fillet flap with TMR to lateral antebrachial cutaneous for transhumeral amputation. Recent literature has corroborated above approaches, reporting free functional rectus as segmentally innervated multi-target TMR recipient, as well as a similar case of spare part surgery with free functioning volar forearm fillet flap in a transhumeral amputation. Concurrent free flap reconstruction with functional muscle targets as TMR recipients prevents the downsides of secondary TMR (i.e pain centralization) whilst providing a 2-in-1 coverage and nerve transfer procedure, reducing the need for repeat surgeries and remedying target replete limbs.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Minhao Hu - , Mr Rory Maher -