Summary: Approximately 25 percent of major limb amputees will develop chronic localized symptomatic neuromas and phantom limb pain in the residual limb. A method to treat and possibly prevent these pain symptoms is targeted reinnervation. Previous studies prove that targeted reinnervation successfully treats and, in some cases, resolves peripheral neuropathy and phantom limb pain in patients who have undergone previous amputation (i.e., secondary targeted reinnervation). This article seeks to share the authors’ clinical indications and surgical technique for targeted muscle reinnervation in below-knee amputation, a surgical description currently absent from our literature. Targeted reinnervation for the below-knee amputee has been performed on 22 patients at the authors’ institution. Each patient has been followed on an outpatient basis for 1 year to evaluate symptoms of neuroma or phantom limb pain, patient satisfaction, and functionality. All subjects have denied neuroma pain following amputation. The majority of subjects reported phantom pain at 1 month. However, at 3 months, all patients reported resolution of this pain. Dumanian et al. first noted the improvement of symptomatic neuroma and phantom limb pain in patients undergoing targeted reinnervation to provide intuitive control of upper limb prostheses. These findings have been substantiated by multiple previous studies at various amputation levels. This study extends the success of targeted muscle reinnervation to below-knee amputations and provides a description for this technique.

Background The American College of Surgeons' Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) Geriatric Trauma Management Guidelines recommend geriatric consultation for injured older adults. However it is not known how or whether geriatric consultation improves compliance to these quality measures. Methods This study is a retrospective chart review of our institutional trauma databank. Adherence to quality measures was compared before and after implementation of specific triggers for geriatric consultation. Secondary analyses evaluated adherence by service: trauma service (Trauma) or a trauma service with early geriatric consultation (GeriTrauma). Results The average age of the 245 patients was 76.7 years, 47% were women, and mean Injury Severity Score was 9.5 (SD ±8.1). Implementation of the GeriTrauma collaborative increased geriatric consultation rates from 2% to 48% but had minimal effect on overall adherence to TQIP quality measures. A secondary analysis comparing those in the post implementation group who received geriatric consultation (n=94) to those who did not (n=103) demonstrated higher rates of delirium diagnosis (36.2% vs 14.6%, p <0.01) and better documentation of initial living situation, code status, and medication list in the GeriTrauma group. Physical therapy was consulted more frequently for GeriTrauma patients (95.7% vs 68.0%, p<0.01) Documented goals of care discussions were rare and difficult to abstract. A subgroup analysis of only patients with fall-related injuries demonstrated similar outcomes. Conclusion Early geriatric consultation increases adherence to TQIP guidelines. Further research into the long term significance and validity of these geriatric trauma quality indicators is needed.

Aim: Composite tissue defects encompassing bone and/or isolated bony defects can pose a surgical challenge; however, their reconstruction is critical for successful functional limb salvage. These cases become increasingly problematic as secondary defects, following multiple nonvascularized grafting attempts resulting in complex bony nonunion. Herein, our experience utilizing fibula vascularized bone grafts (VBGs) for bone restoration will be presented to demonstrate their utility in a variety of reconstructions for limb salvage. Methods: This is a case series describing a series of vascularized fibula grafts for extremity reconstruction performed by a single academic surgeon over multiple institutions in seven years. Results: Twenty-seven (27) total VBGs met inclusion criteria and underwent reconstruction for traumatic (16), oncologic (6) and chronic degenerative (5) etiologies. Bony union was achieved in 26 of 27 cases. Conclusion: The decision-making process for bony reconstruction in these scenarios is difficult and multivariable. Fibula VBGs can provide a single-stage solution for autologous bony and soft tissue replacement of large or complex bone defects and can often be superior options compared with non-vascularized bone grafts or non-bone internal fixation techniques. Their osteogenic potential is unmatched by allogenic or synthetic substitutions. These benefits are evident in a variety of clinical settings such as pediatrics, oncology and trauma.

Soft-tissue deficits of the hand and upper extremity are commonly encountered by the hand surgeon, and the incorporation of regenerative medicine techniques within the reconstruction ladder of such deficits is becoming more accepted. Dermal regenerative templates and acellular dermal matrices, initially employed in burn reconstruction, have since found a niche in many other cases of soft-tissue loss, including complex defects having exposed vital structures (i.e. bone, tendon, nerve, and/or muscle). Understanding of when to choose regenerative medicine options for reconstruction can spare the morbidity of more complex procedures, offer surgical efficiencies, are reliable when appropriately employed, and can replace more advanced reconstructive ladder elements (e.g. flap based reconstructions) with better options in certain extremity reconstruction cases. These regenerative medicine tools have similarly been used to convert devitalized wound beds into beds with healthy granulation tissue receptive of skin grafting. Other regenerative techniques, e.g. fat grafting containing adipose derived stem cells, have also been utilized in hand surgery as volumizing agents and treatments for contracture and sclerosis. The growing body of literature surrounding dermal regenerative templates, acellular dermal matrices, urinary bladder matrix, and fat grafting in soft-tissue coverage of the hand is herein reviewed with illustrative cases depicted.