Reconstruction options for infection-related defects : Plastic surgery armamentarium

Abstract

The occurrence of infections has always been feared in all surgical disciplines. Plastic reconstructive surgery faces the challenge of treating infection-related defects on apatient-specific basis, which requires amultidisciplinary treatment concept. Satisfactory treatment success can only be achieved through radical debridement for infection cleansing, optimization of the perfusion situation paired with targeted anti-infective treatment and, if necessary, with soft tissue reconstruction by plastic surgery. This article presents the current possibilities of plastic and reconstructive surgery with respect to the reconstruction of infection-related defects. Proven and reliable strategies are presented and supplemented by promising experimental approaches. Due to the often multilayered defect situation caused by infections, from the epidermis to cancellous bone, the entire armamentarium of plastic and reconstructive surgery is used for reconstruction. The early involvement of plastic surgery in the treatment of infections and the interdisciplinary and multimodal treatment approach have proven their worth in the treatment of complex infection situations.