{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T15:42:32Z","timestamp":1784907752623,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["CH"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>BACKGROUND: The length of the amputation stump is crucial for optimal prosthetic fitting and rehabilitation. Especially in traumatic amputation, direct closure of the stump may be challenging, and bone shortening is frequently needed. To avoid excessive bone shortening, coverage of exposed bone with free flaps is a versatile option. OBJECTIVE: Here we present our experience with the utilization of free flaps from the lower abdomen for the coverage of amputations stumps of the lower extremity. METHODS: Between March 2008 and October 2010, five patients (three female, two male) with complex wounds on amputation stumps of the lower extremity were treated with a mean age of 50 years (range: 15\u201372 years). Six abdominal free flaps were performed in five patients (one bilateral case), including four deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEP-) and two muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis muscle (ms-TRAM-) flaps. Patient\u2019s and operative data were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: One complete flap failure occurred (overall success rate: 83.3%). Three of five patients gained full ambulatory status. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the low donor site morbidity a long vascular pedicle and the large amount of available tissue, abdominal based free flaps represent our first choice for microsurgical reconstruction of lower extremity stumps.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3233\/ch-211112","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,2]],"date-time":"2021-03-02T13:02:52Z","timestamp":1614690172000},"page":"283-290","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Microvascular free flaps from the lower abdomen for preservation of amputation length in the lower extremity"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"78","author":[{"given":"Raphael","family":"Wenny","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manfred","family":"Schmidt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maximilian","family":"Zaussinger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Isabel","family":"Zucal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dominik","family":"Duscher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Georg M.","family":"Huemer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/CH-211112_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"824","DOI":"10.1097\/01.TA.0000075521.52640.92","article-title":"Bilateral lower leg replantation versus prosthetic replacement: long-term outcome of amputation after an occupational railroad accident","volume":"57","author":"Schmidhammer","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Trauma"},{"key":"10.3233\/CH-211112_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1097\/00003086-199007000-00013","article-title":"Limb salvage versus amputation. 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