Microsurgical advances in extremity salvage.

The main goal of reconstructive microsurgery must be an optimal functional and esthetic reconstruction meeting the individual trauma site requirements with minimal donor site morbidity. The authors discuss new microsurgical options for extremity salvage: indications for reconstruction versus amputation, timing of free tissue transfer, reconstruction of soft tissue and bone, and functional muscle transfer. They discuss indications and contraindications for these procedures, along with emphasizing the important points of each.