About 13 days post op. Still in an amount of pain and taking it one day at a time. Stitches and staples come out day 21. When they do, how am I to care for the flap? Just moisturise and treat it as sensitive skin?
Also, any tips on how to deal with this number of stitches and staples would be most helpful.
Just a chunk of my thigh which has been grafted to the front of my leg. Day 8 post surgery now, the photos are from day 1. Surgery was repair of the tibialis anterior tendon, EHL tendon and fix then skin which was mostly scar tissue hence the need for the flap.
Just a massive piece of my left thigh that's been grafted to the front of my right leg. Repairing damage that was originally caused by a serious infection following a laceration.
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I’m looking for advice, reassurance, or anything practical from people who understand this kind of injury/reconstruction.
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In August last year, I was hit by a bike and the pedal cut through the skin on my lower leg. It severed my Tibialis Anterior tendon and Extensor Hallucis Longus tendon. An infection developed quite quickly, so I needed a week of IV antibiotics and they had to let the wound settle before attempting a primary repair.
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The primary repair was done in October and initially seemed to go well. My surgeon said there was no infection at the time of surgery and that both tendons had been successfully stitched back together.
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However, at the five-day check-up, I had a major surgical site infection. I had to go back to theatre for a debridement, and the surgeon decided to remove the tendon repair because of the infection. The surrounding skin was badly damaged, and they only managed to get the wound closed after five weeks using negative pressure wound therapy/wound vacs.
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In December, I was referred to an orthoplastics team. The current plan is that I’ll need soft tissue coverage, probably either a skin graft or a flap, and a tendon transfer. They mentioned possibly using hamstring tendon for the transfer, but I don’t yet know where the skin graft would be taken from if they use one. I assume the thigh, but I’m not sure.
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My consultant called yesterday and said they are also considering using a temporary external fixator to keep my foot at 90 degrees while the graft or flap heals. He couldn’t say exactly what type of fixator they would use, only that it would be temporary and likely in place for around two to three weeks.
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I’m panicking a bit. I’m autistic and I really struggle with uncertainty and feeling out of control. Hearing “we won’t know exactly what we’re doing until we open you up” is terrifying. I also don’t know how long I’ll be in hospital. I had mentally prepared for a few days, but now I’m worried it could be weeks.
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I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been through something similar, or from anyone with experience of tendon transfers, skin grafts/flaps, orthoplastics, or temporary external fixators.
​
In particular, I’d love to know:
​
\- What questions should I be asking the surgical team?
\- Is there a big difference between a skin graft and a flap?
\- How uncomfortable is a temporary external fixator?
\- Are people usually in hospital the whole time while a graft or flap takes?
\- What helped you cope physically and mentally?
\- Is there anything I can do to reduce stress, discomfort, or sensory overwhelm while in hospital?
\- What should I prepare or pack?
​
Any answers, survival tips, reassurance, or good vibes would be hugely appreciated.
​
Thanks so much x
​
​
I’m looking for advice, reassurance, or anything practical from people who understand this kind of injury/reconstruction.
​
In August last year, I was hit by a bike and the pedal cut through the skin on my lower leg. It severed my Tibialis Anterior tendon and Extensor Hallucis Longus tendon. An infection developed quite quickly, so I needed a week of IV antibiotics and they had to let the wound settle before attempting a primary repair.
​
The primary repair was done in October and initially seemed to go well. My surgeon said there was no infection at the time of surgery and that both tendons had been successfully stitched back together.
​
However, at the five-day check-up, I had a major surgical site infection. I had to go back to theatre for a debridement, and the surgeon decided to remove the tendon repair because of the infection. The surrounding skin was badly damaged, and they only managed to get the wound closed after five weeks using negative pressure wound therapy/wound vacs.
​
In December, I was referred to an orthoplastics team. The current plan is that I’ll need soft tissue coverage, probably either a skin graft or a flap, and a tendon transfer. They mentioned possibly using hamstring tendon for the transfer, but I don’t yet know where the skin graft would be taken from if they use one. I assume the thigh, but I’m not sure.
​
My consultant called yesterday and said they are also considering using a temporary external fixator to keep my foot at 90 degrees while the graft or flap heals. He couldn’t say exactly what type of fixator they would use, only that it would be temporary and likely in place for around two to three weeks.
​
I’m panicking a bit. I’m autistic and I really struggle with uncertainty and feeling out of control. Hearing “we won’t know exactly what we’re doing until we open you up” is terrifying. I also don’t know how long I’ll be in hospital. I had mentally prepared for a few days, but now I’m worried it could be weeks.
​
I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been through something similar, or from anyone with experience of tendon transfers, skin grafts/flaps, orthoplastics, or temporary external fixators.
​
In particular, I’d love to know:
​
- What questions should I be asking the surgical team?
- Is there a big difference between a skin graft and a flap?
- How uncomfortable is a temporary external fixator?
- Are people usually in hospital the whole time while a graft or flap takes?
- What helped you cope physically and mentally?
- Is there anything I can do to reduce stress, discomfort, or sensory overwhelm while in hospital?
- What should I prepare or pack?
​
Any answers, survival tips, reassurance, or good vibes would be hugely appreciated.
​
Thanks so much x