Purpose The tubed pedicle flap represents a foundational innovation in reconstructive surgery and is most commonly attributed to Harold Gillies. However, Vladimir Filatov developed and clinically applied the technique first, with Gillies independently arriving at similar principles soon after during the First World War. This review examines the parallel emergence of the tubed pedicle flap and explores how the wartime geopolitical climate influenced the attribution of surgical credit. Methodology A narrative historical review of early 20th-century wartime surgical literature was undertaken. Publications describing pedicled and tubed flap techniques were reviewed alongside reports documenting reconstructive practice during the First World War. Attention was paid to the timing of experimental work, clinical application, and publication, as well as language of dissemination and academic context. Results Filatov developed and clinically applied the first documented tubed (or “round”) pedicle flap in 1916, with publication of his work appearing in 1917. Gillies independently developed tubed pedicle techniques soon after and subsequently refined and popularised their use through high-volume wartime practice, English-language publication, and surgical teaching. Wartime isolation, limited communication between surgical centres, and restricted access to Russian-language literature contributed to the uneven recognition of these parallel innovations within Western surgical history. Conclusion The development of the tubed pedicle flap reflects parallel innovation rather than plagiarism. The clinical demands of wartime surgery fostered independent yet convergent reconstructive solutions in different geographic settings, developed in isolation and without collaboration. Recognition of these factors provides a more nuanced understanding of how surgical innovations are credited and highlights the role of context in shaping the surgical record and narrative.