Leech therapy in reconstructive maxillofacial surgery.

  • Alexander Gröbe
  • Andreas Michalsen
  • Henning Hanken
  • Rainer Schmelzle
  • Max Heiland
  • Marco Blessmann

Abstract

Corrective plastic surgery is indicated after accidents, burns, cancer surgery, or postoperative wound healing disorders with large tissue defects. The range of reconstructive techniques includes local skin flaps, pedicle grafts, and microvascular anastomosed flaps in the case of large defects. Main complications such as arterial and venous insufficiency caused by a vessel collapse or a vascular spasm are reported regularly in the area of anastomosed vessels and are the concern of any surgeon. Today, leeches are used if wound healing is at risk because of hemodynamic imbalance or a venous insufficiency.

Bibliographical data

Original languageEnglish
Article number1
ISSN0278-2391
Publication statusPublished - 2012
pubmed 21550156