Despite the established guidelines on lower extremity free flap reconstruction by the British Orthopaedic Association Standard for Trauma (BOAST-4) the post-operative care has yet to be standardised. There is currently no coherent evidence in the literature regarding clinical monitoring, warming, dangling and compression; the optimal regimes and their respective physiological benefits. The aim of this study is to survey all UK Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) with regards to the post-operative care of lower extremity free flaps and elucidate the current protocols for clinical monitoring, warming, dangling and compression. All UK-based adult MTCs were surveyed. We formulated a detailed questionnaire to enquire about the post-operative care of lower extremity free flap reconstructions; the number of free flap reconstructions per month and take backs per month and for which post-operative methods a protocol is used in each MTC. We asked specific questions concerning: clinical monitoring, warming, dangling and compression. This questionnaire was distributed to consultant leads in the form of multiple choice questions, with an option of free-text box for further comments, using JISC online surveys. Results were analysed in Excel and presented in percentages.Introduction
Materials & Methods
