Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41978233›Full record

ArticleMicrosurgery2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Complex Lower Extremity Limb Salvage in Pyogenic Arthritis, Pyoderma Gangrenosum, and Acne (PAPA) Syndrome: A Case Report.

Michael M Talanker, Anthony V Basta, Tien Do, Robert Tung, Addison Allen, Morgan Martin, Bryan L Ruygrok, Patrick J Kellam, Jeffrey G Trost, Mohin A Bhadkamkar

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Microsurgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Michael M TalankerDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Anthony V BastaDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Tien DoDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Robert TungDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Addison AllenDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Morgan MartinDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Bryan L RuygrokDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Patrick J KellamDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Jeffrey G TrostDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Mohin A BhadkamkarDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Limb salvage using free tissue transfer in patients with rare autoinflammatory syndromes is poorly described, and the safety of microvascular reconstruction in this population remains uncertain. Hereditary pyogenic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, and acne (PAPA) syndrome is characterized by dysregulated inflammation, pathergy, and impaired wound healing, raising concern for flap compromise and postoperative complications. We report a rare case of lower extremity free tissue transfer in a patient with PAPA syndrome. A 66-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis and PAPA syndrome presented with rapid wound breakdown, violaceous ulceration, exposed hardware, and periprosthetic joint infection following left total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Examination revealed an approximately 9 × 7 cm anterior knee defect with subtotal patellar tendon necrosis. After multidisciplinary optimization, she underwent single-stage irrigation and debridement, hardware removal, revision TKA with patellar tendon reconstruction using gracilis autograft, and immediate coverage with a 22 × 14 cm free latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flap. The flap was anastomosed end-to-side to the anterior tibial artery with venous outflow via the venae comitantes and loosely inset to preserve future surgical access. The donor site was closed primarily. A 21 × 13 cm staged split-thickness skin graft was performed 1 week later, with adjunctive postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Initial healing was uncomplicated, with complete graft take and donor-site healing. Four months postoperatively, the patient developed chronic sinus tracts and recurrent periprosthetic infection requiring flap re-elevation, debridement, and hardware exchange; the flap pedicle was preserved, and coverage maintained. At one-year follow-up, all wounds had healed; flap coverage was durable with acceptable cosmesis, and the patient was ambulatory for short distances without assistance. She was last seen infection-free and full-weightbearing 4 months later. This case demonstrates that microvascular limb salvage is feasible in PAPA syndrome when guided by multidisciplinary planning and strategic flap design.

Indexed as

Arthritis, InfectiousFree Tissue FlapsLimb SalvagePyoderma GangrenosumAcne VulgarisAgedArthroplasty, Replacement, KneeDebridementFemaleHumansPlastic Surgery Proceduresacne (PAPA) syndromelimb salvagelower‐extremity reconstructionpyoderma gangrenosumpyogenic arthritis

Identifiers

PMID41978233
PMCPMC13077015

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.