Patients with severe burns complicated by joint involvement and exposure of noble structures require immediate local cover, which can be achieved using a variety of surgical procedures. Local flaps are the first choice due to the simplicity of their preparation and the resulting acceptable cover. However, the tissue adjacent to the burned area is often of low quality as a consequence of local changes that mainly affect blood circulation. When local flaps cannot be used, distant and/or microsurgical flaps can be applied. However, distant flaps generally require reconstructions performed in separate surgical procedures, which can prolong bed rest and immobilization of the patient. For more than 3 decades, microsurgery has been used to repair significant tissue losses in a single surgical procedure. This technique enabled the use of tissue transplantation for the repair of burn sequelae. Often in association with other established surgeries, such as skin graft or tissue expansion, these procedures provide better functional and aesthetic results. In the present study, aspects of this therapeutic strategy, as well as the indications, contraindications, and technical details of tissue transplantation are discussed.
Burns; Microsurgery; Tissue transplantation
