Extremity Reconstruction
Our plastic surgeons save legs damaged by traumatic injuries, reconstruct hand and finger joints and treat debilitating arthritis. Cedars-Sinai handles complex injuries and conditions with advanced treatments delivered by skilled, capable surgeons.
Our Approach to Extremity Reconstruction
Plastic surgeons repair and reconstruct skin, muscles and nerves, while orthopaedic surgeons focus on reconstructing bones. Our plastic surgeons work together with the orthopaedic specialists at Cedars-Sinai. This collaboration, combined with the team’s specialized trauma training, sets us apart.
Complex Limb Surgery and Limb Salvage
As a Level I trauma center, we treat the most serious limb injuries. Reconstruction can include taking tissue from other parts of the body, connecting it to the injured area and establishing blood supply to promote healing and prevent infection. This healthy tissue can help restore your limb’s function and appearance and is essential for a successful reconstruction.
Our quick-moving limb salvage team includes specialists in trauma, orthopaedics, vascular surgery, prosthetics and more. We do everything we can to preserve your limb and its function. When that’s not possible, we have a full team to address any challenges and minimize complications.
Hand Surgery
Hand surgery is delicate, precise work. Our plastic surgeons can restore the function of joints and hands, often using special instruments designed here at Cedars-Sinai. We use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy. State-of-the-art arthroscopy uses a needle and is also an option for hands and wrists.
Microvascular surgery
We rebuild damaged limbs, joints, muscles and tissue using delicate microsurgery. Our plastic surgeons use high-powered 3D microscopes and small instruments to perform complex procedures, such as connecting tiny blood vessels and repairing and reconstructing nerves.
Our Extremity Reconstruction Team
Our integrated Limb Salvage team has the advanced capabilities to treat even the most severe limb injuries and the precision to restore function to hands and legs.
Extremity Reconstruction: What to Expect
We work with your orthopaedic surgeon and other specialists to plan your treatment. We often perform leg reconstruction surgery in stages, so you may need more than one procedure. Hand surgery is typically an outpatient procedure with physical therapy and pain management as needed.
Hand surgery options
Arthritis, trigger finger, tendinitis or carpal tunnel can make it difficult to use your fingers and hands. We use stem cells and other materials to restore function and eliminate pain in the hands and upper extremity. Our surgeons also use small scopes to “clean out” damaged joints and then inject PRP and fat to enhance healing.
Leg reconstruction procedures
We can perform free flap transfers (or free tissue transfer). Surgeons move tissue (skin, muscle, fat) from the abdomen or another area to your leg. We attach arteries and veins from the transferred tissue to nearby vessels, so the tissue has a healthy blood supply.
Skin grafts and simple procedures
Every person is different, so your treatment depends on the extent of the leg damage. We can perform simple procedures, such as closing up wounds. We also perform complex skin grafts, where we take skin from the abdomen or another part of your body and attach it to the affected limb.
Follow-up care
We follow you closely after limb reconstruction or hand surgery to make sure your wounds heal properly. Your surgeon may also recommend rehabilitation, physical therapy or occupational therapy to help with your recovery.