“…Technical advances in microsurgery have resulted in a high rate of successful revascularization after major limb amputations. Earlier studies emphasized the restoration of circulation and equated this with the success of the procedure, reporting up to 94% initial survival (Berger and Millesi,1980; Brown et al, 1979; Daniel et al, 1973; Kleinert et al, 1980; Malt et al, 1972; Meyer, 1985; Midell and Loughran, 1976; Nasseri and Voss, 1973; O’Brien et al, 1974; Peacock and Tsai, 1987; Pinzur et al, 1994; Russell et al, 1984; Tamai, 1982; Wang et al, 1981; Wood and Cooney, 1986; Zhong-Wei et al, 1981). In later reports, however, it was revealed that the initial high survival rate did not translate well into successful long-term outcome (Atzei et al, 2005; Axelrod and Büchler, 1991; Battiston et al, 2007; Beris et al, 1994; Dagum et al, 2007; Daigle and Kleinert, 1991; Graham et al, 1998; Hierner et al, 1998; Ipsen et al, 1990; Sabapathy et al, 2007; Sugun et al, 2009; Wang et al, 1981).…”