The job site can sometimes be a dangerous place. This young man sustained a severe crush injury to his right leg in an industrial accident. The trauma produced an open wound, ankle fracture and cut-off the circulation to the foot.
To prevent amputation the surgical team stabilized his bones with an external frame and harvested skin and an artery from the arm (radial forearm free flap) for the reconstruction.
Utilizing a microscope and stitches finer than a hair the arm tissue was transferred to the leg where the damaged vessels were bypassed and the injured tissue replaced. He went on to heal both his fracture and wound, avoiding an amputation.
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