When Every Second Counts, the Right Expertise Has to Be Ready

By Matt Radant, M.D., D.D.S.
Trauma Surgeon, Saint Francis Health System

When a serious accident happens, getting to a trauma center fast is only part of the equation. What happens once you arrive — and who is there to treat you — can determine whether a limb is saved, how well you recover and what your life looks like on the other side.

At Saint Francis, that expertise is built in.

Reconstructive Care That Changes Outcomes

Saint Francis trauma surgeon Matt Radant, M.D., D.D.S. brings a rare combination of surgical training to the trauma program — one that directly influences survival, limb salvage and long-term recovery for patients across the region.

For severe injuries involving exposed bone, open fractures or wounds with compromised tissue, Dr. Radant performs a procedure called free tissue transfer. In simple terms: healthy tissue is carefully taken from another part of the patient's body — most commonly the thigh — along with its blood supply, and used to rebuild the damaged area and restore circulation at the injury site.

"Often this is the last chance patients have of not losing an arm or leg," Dr. Radant said. "It's very satisfying to help them recover fully."

These procedures can be performed at the time of orthopedic surgery or scheduled in stages, depending on the patient's overall condition and the complexity of the injury.

Expertise for a Wide Range of Injuries

Not every trauma wound requires a free tissue transfer. For less extensive injuries — lacerations, dog bites and wounds where only soft tissue is involved — Dr. Radant uses synthetic reconstruction or skin grafts to achieve the best possible outcome. He performs one or two free tissue transfer cases each month and several soft tissue reconstruction procedures each week.

His dual training in surgery and dentistry also supports care for head and neck injuries and ongoing follow-up for trauma patients as they recover.

What This Means for Patients in Eastern Oklahoma

Having this level of reconstructive expertise available in-house — and integrated directly into the trauma program — means patients don't have to be transferred elsewhere at the most critical moment of their care. The specialists needed to save a limb or manage a complex wound are already here, ready to act.

When the unexpected happens, Saint Francis is ready.