Salvaging Limbs, Rebuilding Lives.

Severe leg trauma often involves extensive tissue loss, exposing bone, joints, or vital implants. M.Ch. Plastic Surgeon Dr. Pawan Shahane utilizes advanced skin grafting and complex free flap surgery to cover these defects, prevent amputation, and restore mobility.

Emergency Trauma Contact

The Challenge of Lower Limb Reconstruction.

Road traffic accidents or severe falls can result in catastrophic injuries to the legs. Often, there is a mismatch between the amount of damaged bone and the amount of healthy soft tissue (skin and muscle) remaining to cover it. If exposed bone is not covered quickly with vascularized tissue, infection sets in, the bone dies, and amputation may become the only option.

At Mayflower Clinic, we specialize in "limb salvage." Dr. Pawan Shahane applies intricate reconstructive techniques to transplant healthy tissue from one part of your body to the damaged leg. Our goal is to create a stable, durable wound closure that not only saves the leg but allows for future weight-bearing and walking.

"Reconstructing a severely traumatized leg is a race against infection. It requires meticulous surgical planning and the ability to transplant living tissue to where it is needed most."

Specialized Wound Closure Techniques

From simple grafting to complex free tissue transfer.

Skin Grafting (STSG)

A graft is a "shaving" of healthy skin (usually from the thigh) that is moved to cover a superficial wound that has a good blood supply. It is used when there is no exposed bone, tendon, or hardware.

Pedicled & Rotational Flaps

A flap is a thicker piece of tissue (skin and muscle) that carries its own blood supply. A "pedicled" flap is detached from everything except its main artery and vein, and then rotated locally to cover a nearby defect, such as an exposed knee joint.

Free Flap Surgery (Microsurgery)

When there is no healthy tissue near the wound, Dr. Pawan performs a "free flap." Tissue is completely detached from a donor site (like the back or thigh), moved to the leg, and its tiny artery and vein are reconnected to the leg's blood vessels under a microscope to ensure survival.

Limb Salvage Through Microsurgery

Free flap surgery is the pinnacle of reconstructive plastic surgery, often serving as the absolute last resort to save a leg.

Micro-Vascular Anastomosis

Using high-powered magnification and sutures thinner than a human hair, Dr. Pawan meticulously connects arteries and veins that are 1mm to 2mm in diameter. This critical step provides the transplanted tissue with the fresh blood supply needed to survive.

Covering Complex Defects

Free muscle flaps (like the Latissimus Dorsi from the back) provide bulky, highly vascularized coverage that is essential for filling large "dead spaces" around shattered bones or covering orthopedic metal hardware to prevent infection.

Durable Closure

Unlike skin grafts, which can be fragile, muscle flaps provide a robust, cushioned surface. This is vital for the lower leg and foot, which must eventually withstand the pressure and friction of walking and wearing shoes.

Recovery & Limb Care

How long will the transplanted tissue take to heal?

The initial 72 hours after free flap surgery are critical; we monitor the flap every hour to ensure the blood flow remains stable. The flap itself usually heals within 2-3 weeks, but the overall recovery of the leg (including bone healing and walking) will take many months.

Will I be able to walk normally again?

Limb salvage is about saving the leg, but the final functional outcome depends heavily on the extent of bone and nerve damage. While we strive to restore normal walking, some patients may require a specialized shoe or brace. Rigorous physical therapy is mandatory for the best possible outcome.

What will the donor site look like?

To save the leg, we must create a wound elsewhere (e.g., thigh, back). Dr. Pawan uses meticulous plastic surgery techniques to close these donor sites, usually resulting in a linear scar that is eventually well-hidden under clothing. Donor site management is a key part of our planning.

Do I need to do anything special to care for the salvaged limb?

Yes, especially in the first year. The new tissue might have less sensation, making it vulnerable to accidental burns or scrapes. Long-term use of compression garments is usually required to manage swelling (edema) in the reconstructed leg. We will provide detailed, long-term care protocols.

📞 Call Clinic 💬 WhatsApp Dr. 📅 Book Consult