[Reconstruction options for infection-related defects : Plastic surgery armamentarium].

Background: The occurrence of infections has always been feared in all surgical disciplines. Plastic reconstructive surgery faces the challenge of treating infection-related defects on a patient-specific basis, which requires a multidisciplinary treatment concept. Satisfactory treatment success can only be achieved through radical debridement for infection cleansing, optimization of the perfusion situation paired with targeted anti-infective treatment and, if necessary, with soft tissue reconstruction by plastic surgery.

Objective: This article presents the current possibilities of plastic and reconstructive surgery with respect to the reconstruction of infection-related defects.

Material and methods: Proven and reliable strategies are presented and supplemented by promising experimental approaches.

Results: Due to the often multilayered defect situation caused by infections, from the epidermis to cancellous bone, the entire armamentarium of plastic and reconstructive surgery is used for reconstruction.

Conclusion: The early involvement of plastic surgery in the treatment of infections and the interdisciplinary and multimodal treatment approach have proven their worth in the treatment of complex infection situations.