INFERIOR VENA CAVA FILTERS AND LOWER LIMB FLAP RECONSTRUCTIONS

Background:  This is the first ever study looking at the combination of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and flap reconstruction in traumatic lower limb injuries. The use of IVC filters is increasing and they are now being used prophylactically in trauma patients who are at a high risk of developing thromboembolism disease. Although it has been postulated that IVC filters, through its positioning in the IVC, results in a higher incidence of venous congestion and possibly failure of lower limb flaps, the effect of IVC filters on lower limb flap reconstructions has not been addressed in the published works. The aim of this study was to determine whether IVC filters affect the outcome of lower limb flap reconstructions in the trauma patient.