It is a misconception that plastic surgery procedures are difficult with Ilizarov. On the contrary, the Ilizarov magic eliminates the need for plastic procedures in most cases. The case below shows the progress in a tibial fracture in just 55 days, well on the way to recovery, from a threatened amputation. CASE FILE Major truck accident, with a dangling leg, which the patient himself carried. "It was hanging with a skin flap" That’s what the patient says. Taken to a highway corporate hospital.
Here he was stabilised with an AO external fixator. Doppler showed vascular compromise. They asked him to sign an amputation consent, which the patient did. In two days, the limb remained viable, and he was referred to a plastic surgeon for flap coverage. "With Ilizarov, you eliminate the need for flaps, as this expands soft tissue as well" That was what I used to boast to my plastic surgeon…
