Orthoplastic approach to leg and foot trauma

The lower limb trauma is a set of complex and challenging clinical situations that need an excellent knowledge of both orthopedic and plastic surgical techniques. It is mandatory that the medical doctor in charge of treating the trauma knows all the steps of the healing process, from the correct diagnosis when the patients arrive in the emergency room, to the final rehabilitation process. Imaging and clinical initial evaluation must be performed in the emergency room. A correct diagnosis of the entity of the trauma can only be done after the debridement of all the non-viable tissue in the operating room. The damage control of the fracture and of the soft tissue allows to post pone the correct reconstruction of a few days. The final soft tissue reconstruction must be done in synergy with the treatment of the bone fracture.