With a deep understanding of anatomy and extensive experience in managing intricate wound repairs, Dr. Chang provides a tailored approach that addresses your unique needs. His comprehensive pre-operative assessments and strategic planning are designed to achieve optimal results, restoring both the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance of the affected area. By prioritizing both functional restoration and cosmetic outcome, Dr. Chang’s personalized care ensures that each patient benefits from a thorough and effective treatment plan, leading to improved healing, protection of critical structures, and a significant enhancement in your overall quality of life. 

Dr. Chang’s expertise in complex wound reconstruction brings unparalleled skill and precision to each procedure.

Complex wound reconstruction is a cornerstone of plastic surgery, addressing some of the most challenging and intricate cases involving significant trauma or complications from previous surgeries. These procedures are essential for patients with complex wounds, including sternal wounds, pelvic or perineal wounds, traumatic wounds to the upper and lower extremities, or wound complications from other surgical procedures. The goal of complex wound reconstruction is to restore both form and function, heal the wound, protect underlying critical structures, and enable a return to normal daily activities. By focusing on these critical aspects, the surgery aims to enhance your overall quality of life so that you can resume your routine with greater ease and confidence. 

Overview & Why Choose Dr. Chang

Reconstruction of Complex Wounds 

  • Sternal Reconstruction – Wounds that develop following open-heart surgery can be not only life-hindering but also life-threatening. Because there is little soft tissue between your skin and sternal bone, there is a high risk of wound breakdown and infection. There is also a high risk of the sternal bones not healing together properly, called sternal nonunion. Dr. Chang performs sternal reconstruction to rigidly fixate the sternum back together and uses muscle flaps to protect the critical structures under your sternum from infection. Because of the complexity of these surgeries, Dr. Chang works jointly with cardiac surgery. 

  • Chest Wall Reconstruction – Complex wounds of the chest wall can develop after trauma or cancer resection. In addition to loss of skin, sometimes the underlying muscles and ribs are resected, leaving the lungs unprotected. Dr. Chang performs chest wall reconstruction by providing structural stability to your musculoskeletal chest wall and muscle and skin flaps to help heal the overlying wound. Because of the complexity of these surgeries, Dr. Chang works jointly with thoracic surgery. 

  • Abdominal Wall Reconstruction – Abdominal wall reconstruction of ventral hernias can improve the painful and often debilitating symptoms of hernias. Dr. Chang repairs ventral hernias using mesh reinforcement and muscle flap component separation to provide strong, long-lasting support and minimize recurrence. General surgery will also play a key role in removing any scar tissue from the intra-abdominal contents to ensure a clean and effective repair.  

  • Pelvic and Perineal Reconstruction – Pelvic and perineal wounds can develop after trauma, infection, and cancer resections. Proper reconstruction is important to maintain the function of the genitourinary and anorectal systems and protect your intra-pelvic and abdominal contents from the outside world. Dr. Chang performs muscle and skin flaps to help complex wounds in this region heal.

  • Groin Wounds After Vascular Surgeries – Wounds may develop in the groin after major vascular procedures and are potentially very serious because of the underlying major blood vessels. Dr. Chang works in conjunction with vascular surgeons to perform muscle flaps to help protect your underlying blood vessels and any bypass graft materials used by the vascular surgeons. 

  • Back Wounds After Spine Surgeries – Wounds may develop following spinal fusion surgery and are very serious because of the underlying spine and spinal cord. Dr. Chang works in conjunction with spine surgeons, using muscle flaps to protect the fusion performed by the spine surgeons to maximize the chance that both the bones and soft tissue heal appropriately. 

  • Upper and Lower Extremity Traumatic Wounds – Wounds of the upper and lower extremity are common after severe trauma. They can be complex to reconstruct because of the important functions that the extremities are responsible for. Furthermore, if there are fractures, it is essential that the wound is reconstructed so that the bones can heal without infection. Dr. Chang works with orthopedic surgeons to perform comprehensive functional traumatic extremity reconstruction using a wide range of techniques including free flaps, local flaps, skin grafts and substitutes, nerve repairs, and muscle and tendon repairs. 

What Conditions Does Dr. Chang Treat? 

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