Soft tissue reconstruction of the thoracolumbar spine
Alaina M Taylor
Plastic and Reconstructive Advanced Trainee in New South Wales, Australia.
: J Regen Med
Abstract
Breast feeding is unique to providComplex composite defects of the thoracolumbar spine can occur due to spinal tumor surgery, hardware infection or failure and pressure areas. Reconstruction can be challenging due to a history of extensive prior surgery, radiation therapy, infection, comorbidities and the availability of healthy, vascularized local donor tissue. The spectrum of reconstructive options ranging from primary closure to autologous free tissue transfer must be applied and careful planning and staging is required. Identification of high-risk patients and early referral to a plastic reconstructive service is paramount to achieving successful wound closure. A case series is presented detailing reconstruction of a variety of thoracolumbar defects undertaken in a single institution in New South Wales, Australia. These include complex defects with exposed and infected hardware, in long term spinal patients. A review of the literature has been performed and an algorithm for the stratification and management of patients with spinal defects due to trauma, infection, surgery and pressure areas is presented..
Biography
Dr. Alaina Taylor is a Plastic and Reconstructive Advanced Trainee in New South Wales, Australia. dralainataylor@gmail.com
