Free flap transfer with arteriovenous loop establishment for upper limb salvage in a crush injury

Abstract

Constructing arteriovenous (AV) loops saves a crushed limb when healthy recipient vessels are unavailable at the site of injury by supporting a transferred free flap. Literature about using AV loops in the upper limb defect is scarce. We present a case with a devastating upper limb crush injury that was successfully managed with fibula flap transfer preceded by AV loop construction. A 38-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with severe crushing trauma to her right forearm and hand. There was significant skin loss with injuries to blood vessels and tendons. She underwent multiple staged operations beginning with repair of the ulnar artery, debridement of necrotic tissue, and placement of 2 K-wires to stabilize the bones. Thereafter, a long saphenous AV loop was constructed between the brachial artery and the basilic vein. Finally, transfer of the fibula flap to the forearm. We used the staged procedure to provide adequate time for the AV loop maturation and adaptation. At around the patient's 7-month follow-up visit, her forearm and hand were stable, no complications related to the AV loop or the transferred fibula flap were noted. Utilizing AV loops to support transferred free flaps upper limb defects showed a promising successful outcome.