[Pedicle flap plastic surgery in the primary care of large skin and soft tissue defects of the upper extremity].

Pedicle flaps from the chest or abdomen are still most suitable to cover large skin and soft tissue defects on the upper extremity. Compared to free tissue transfer with microvascular anastomosis, the conventional techniques ave advantages with regard to size, technical execution, technical differentiation and rate of healing in. Every skin and soft tissue defect on the upper extremity, however large it is, can be primarily treated by means of a pedicle flap.