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Crystal et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2019;6:1 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2018.69 Aesthetic Research

Original Article Open Access

The role of plastic surgeons in extremity
reconstruction following mass casualty incidents

Dustin T. Crystal, Ahmed M. S. Ibrahim, Samuel J. Lin

Division of Plastic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Samuel J. Lin, Division of Plastic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110
Francis Street Suite 5A, Boston, MA 02215, USA. E-mail: sjlin@bidmc.harvard.edu
How to cite this article: Crystal DT, Ibrahim AMS, Lin SJ. The role of plastic surgeons in extremity reconstruction following mass casualty
incidents. Plast Aesthet Res 2019;6:1. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2018.69

Received: 26 Sep 2018 First Decision: 8 Oct 2018 Revised: 26 Nov 2018 Accepted: 8 Jan 2019 Published: 23 Jan 2019

Science Editor: Matthew L. Iorio Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract

Aim: Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) are a devastating source of morbidity and mortality, testing the infrastructure of
acute care management and challenging the ability to reconstruct limbs. Herein, we look to further a discussion on upper
and lower limb reconstruction following MCIs.

Methods: Review of the literature, including our institute’s experience with the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, the
2015-2016 Terror Attacks in Ankara, and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, pertaining to extremity reconstruction following
MCIs.

Results: The three aforementioned case profiles highlight extremity wounds associated with MCIs and the subsequent
reconstructive role of plastic surgeons. Surgical intervention or temporization of extremity wounds is a critical
responsibility of plastic surgeons in this setting. Limb salvage is possible and often the preferred option following
disasters.

Conclusion: Intentional or naturally occurring MCIs are a grim reality. Successful response to these events requires
prompt mobilization of emergency medical staff and hospital activation. Plastic surgeons play a paramount role in
multidisciplinary management of trauma with a particularly important involvement in limb reconstruction.

Keywords: Upper extremity reconstruction, lower extremity reconstruction, mass casualty incidents, microsurgery

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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