What does soft tissue defect mean?

Soft tissue defects may occur in fractures. The so-called soft tissue defects are defects of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, accompanied by muscles or neurovascularity, and are commonly seen in open fractures. In case of extensive soft tissue injury, such as complete defect of subcutaneous tissue and deep fascia, clinical management is more difficult, not only to joint the fracture site, but also to repair soft tissues, including muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. For a grade III open fracture, sometimes a flap repair, or microsurgical repair treatment is required.