ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the surgical technique of applying the third retrograde 3rd dorsal metacarpal artery island flap with d orsal metacarpal superficial vein i n order to expand the repairing range of the3rd dorsal metacarpal artery island flap and increase the survival of the flap.Methods After 1999,13cases of the dorsal and pulp soft tissue defect of the 3rd and 4th fingers were designed to be repaired with the third dorsal metacarpal artery island fla p with dorsal metacarpal superficia l vein.The flap pedicle carried the 3rd dorsal cutaneous nerve and superficial metacarpal vein.The flap axis extended proximally 6cm along the original axis.The flap was harvested according to t he axis of the superficial vein.Results All flaps survived completely and2cases seemed survived as vein flaps.Consclusions This surgical technique can be used t o expand the re-pairing range of the 3rd dorsal metac arpal artery island flap,and be suitable to repair the dorsal and pulp soft tissue defcts of the 3rd and 4th finge rs.The one stage operation is simple,practical and effective.