In medical terminology, the term defect (Latin “deficere, defectum” = to be lacking) refers to damage to,
or absence of, an organ or part of an organ or its function.
One domain of plastic and reconstructive surgery is the reconstruction or coverage of soft tissue defects in order to restore skin and soft tissue continuity from curative or palliative, functional and/or aesthetic points of view. A wide range of options is available for this, from a local flap and skin graft to free microsurgical tissue transfer.
Many points must be taken into account during planning, as there are often several possible solutions and the approach best suited to the individual patient should be chosen.
Tissue defects can have the following causes:
Congenital defects, e.g. as part of a malformation such as spina bifida,
Acquired defects, for example due to trauma, e.g. a burn or an open fracture,
Postoperative defects after tumour surgery,
Soft tissue defects of vascular origin, e.g. due to a circulatory disorder (ulcers in chronic venous insufficiency),
Defects arising from restricted mobility, e.g. pressure ulcers (decubitus),
As a result of an autoimmune process.
It is important to take into account and treat the underlying disease, which may be decisive for long-term treatment success.
Further decision criteria for treatment success are size, depth, location, infection,
which structures are affected, such as fascia, muscles, bone, nerves or vessels,
and the patient’s general condition, age and motivation.
Sources and further information
