Orthoplastic Surgery
Integrated bone and soft-tissue reconstruction for limb salvage.
What is Orthoplastic Reconstruction?
Severe open fractures, high-energy trauma, and chronic bone infections often involve both bone damage and soft-tissue loss. Orthoplastic surgery combines orthopaedic bone stabilization with plastic surgery soft-tissue coverage to manage these complex cases effectively.
Who Needs Treatment?
Patients with complex open fractures (such as Gustilo Grade III tibial fractures), exposed bone or hardware, chronic non-healing wounds, or severe scarring requiring surgical reconstruction.
Common Indicators & Symptoms
- Open wounds with exposed bone, plate, or nail
- Non-healing traumatic wounds with bone instability
- Chronic tissue loss following severe injuries
- Failed previous attempts at wound coverage
Coordinated Vascular & Skeletal Mapping
We use CT angiography to assess blood flow and plan vascular connections, combined with high-resolution CT and bone scans to evaluate bone quality and stability.
Treatment Options
Our coordinated surgical approach involves: 1. Debridement: Thorough removal of all infected bone and devitalized soft tissue. 2. Fixation: Rigid stabilization of the bone using internal plates, nails, or external frames. 3. Coverage: Soft-tissue reconstruction using local or free tissue transfers (flaps) to cover the bone defect in a single surgical setting.
Technology & Specialized Equipment
Microvascular surgical instruments, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and specialized external fixation frames.
Recovery & Post-Operative Care
Rehabilitation is carefully coordinated to protect both the bone reconstruction and the soft-tissue transfer, ensuring a safe and progressive return to weight-bearing and mobility.
Common Questions
Research References & Publications
Elsheikh, A., Elseidy, H. & Saad, H. Is 18 F-FDG PET-CT-guided geographic debridement superior to conventional debridement in appendicular chronic osteomyelitis? Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2026.