Reconstruction of the Hand Using Fabricated Great Toe Pulp and Anterolateral Thigh Chimeric Free Flap

In the treatment of large hand soft tissue defect including pulp defect, it has been recommended to reconstruct pulp defect separately by glabrous skin flap such as toe pulp free flap or thenar free flap considering of skin texture, color and sensation. But sometimes we may not use recipient digital artery which is required for microanastomosis because of the injury of digital artery. To solve this problem, the authors reconstructed thumb pulp and hand palmar area soft tissue defect with fabricated flow-through chimeric free flap connecting distal part of descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery which distributes perforators of anterolateral thigh free flap and pedicle of great toe pulp free flap and met with good results.

Free Flap Coverage of the Finger Defect Caused by Digital Replantation Failure

PURPOSE: In case of the failed replantation, if the patients want to preserve the length of amputated stump, toe transfer is the ideal choice. However, reconstruction of these amputated stump with a free flap can be a useful method when the patients refuse sacrificing their toe. Our purpose of this study is to evaluate availability of functional results and patient satisfaction after this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2008 to February 2012, we reconstructed the amputated stump with free flap by patients demand. Eleven patients were included, medial plantar artery perforator flap in seven cases and great toe pulp flap in five cases. Follow-up range 12 to 24 months and we evaluate patient satisfaction by using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 1=unsatisfied, 5=excellent) and functional recovery by measuring the range of motion of remaining joint at 12 months after operation. RESULTS: During follow-up period, all transferred free flaps survived and no major complications were noted. Range of motion of remaining joint appeared satisfactory result (15degrees to 100degrees). The VAS patient satisfaction score for aesthetic were five in six patients, four in four patients, and three in one patient. CONCLUSION: In case of the failed digital replantation, if patient refuse toe transfer, it could be useful method to reconstruction with the free flap to preserving maximal length of amputated stump.

Finger Tip Reconstruction Using 2nd Toe Pulp Free Flap: A Case Report

PURPOSE: First introduced by Buncke and Rose in 1979, the neurovascular partial 2nd toe pulp free tissue transfer has been attempted to reconstruct posttraumatic finger tip injuries. Although some surgeons prefer other reconstructive methods such as skin graft and local flap, we chose the partial 2nd toe pulp flap owing to its many advantages. We report three successful surgical cases in which the patients had undergone this particular method of reconstruction. METHODS: We retrospectively examined three cases of fingertip injury patients due to mechanical injury. Bone exposure was seen in all three cases, All had undergone partial toe pulp free flap for soft tissue defect coverage. RESULTS: All flaps survived without any complications such as partial necrosis, hematoma or dehiscence. Although tingling sensation has returned in both cases, two-point discrimination has not returned yet. Currently no patient is complaining of any pain which gradually improved during their course of recuperation. All stitches were removed on postoperative 2 weeks. Patients are satisfied with the final surgical result and there are no signs of any edema or hematoma. CONCLUSION: The homodigital reconstruction of finger tip injury using the partial 2nd toe pulp flap has numerous advantages compared to other reconstructive modalities such as its resistance to wear and tear and in that it provides a non-slip palmar digital surface. However it requires microsurgery which may not be preferred by surgeons. Advanced age of the patient can be a relative contraindication to this approach since atheromatous plaque from the donor toe can compromise flap circulation after surgery. We report three successful cases which patient age was considered appropriate. Further investigation with a larger number of cases and long term follow-up is deemed necessary.

Toe pulp free flap to repair defects in the clinical application of the fingers / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the toe flap repair of finger pulp defect of the clinical effects.Methods Of finger pulp defect using the first or second toe in 25 cases of free flaps, the flaps were cut size of 2.0 cm x 3.0 cm-3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, to toe at the end of artery-means the artery, subcutaneous veins-ve-nous anastomosis reconstruction of dorsal skin flap blood circulation, plantar digital nerve-refers to the inherent sensory nerve reconstruction.Results Twenty-five patients with flaps all survived, after vascular crisis occurred in 2 cases,surgical exploration and re-anastomosis of vascular survival, 3 months after flap reconstructive surgery in 12 cases.All patients were followed up for 2 months to 2 years, an average of 10 months,the fingers were satisfied with function and appearance, pulp full, two- point discrimination was 4-6 mm.Conclusion The toe plantar free flap repair of finger pulp defect may be a better clinical effects.

Comparison between Moberg Flap and Second Toe Pulp Free Flap for Coverage of Tip Amputation of Thumb

PURPOSE: Transverse type or volar oblique type of defect of thumb tip can be covered by Moberg flap or second toe pulp free flap. We compared these two methods in functional result, patients' satisfaction, and sensation, etc. to find a better way to cover the defect of the thumb tip. METHODS: From 2003 to 2006, we chose the patients randomly with preoperative pictures. The patients had the defect of the thumb tip which is either transverse or volar oblique type. The 6 patients were treated with Moberg flap and other 6 patients were treated with second toe pulp free flap. We have analyzed the results by 2 point discrimination, side pinching power test, pulp to pulp pinching power test, pain scales (visual analogue scale), satisfaction scales of the patients (functional and aesthetic), the degree of the range of motion, etc. RESULTS: All flaps survived without any complications. In the cases of Moberg flaps, the value of static 2 point discrimination test was 5.6mm, and the value of moving 2 point discrimination test was 4.8mm. In the cases of second toe pulp free flaps, the values were 9.6mm and 9.3mm. In the cases of Moberg flaps, the value of the Side pinch power test was 6.6kg, 4.4kg. In the case of second toe pulp free flaps, the values were 4.8kg and 2.5kg. The value of aesthetic satisfaction scale of the patients in Moberg flaps was 5.6, the value of functional satisfaction scale of the patients was 3.6. In cases of second toe pulp free flaps, the values were 5.6 and 3.6. The active range of motion of Interphalangeal joint in the cases of Moberg flaps was 46.6 degree, and the active range of motion of metacarpophalangeal joint was 55 degree, in the cases of second toe pulp free flaps, the values were 36.6 degree and 59 degree. CONCLUSION: As a result, when the defect of the thumb tip is transverse or volar oblique type, we suggest that the operators choose Moberg flap to cover the defect of the thumb tip.

Neurovascular Free Toe Pulp Flap Using Dorsal Digital Artery In Finger Reconstruction

Free neurovascular flap transfers have been widely used for restoration of discriminative sensibility and contour of the finger. The free neurovascular flaps from first web space of the foot is a good treatment option to achieve above two conditions. Fingertip reconstruction with a free toe pulp neurovascular flap, since it was described first in 1979, have been reported a lot. But in most cases. toe pulp flap used first dorsal metatarsal artery as a vascular pedicle. The authors, therefore, carried out four dissections on the cadavers to study first web space neurovascular anatomy for using the dorsal digital artery of the foot as a vascular pedicle. On the basis of the results of this cadaver dissection, we reconstructed posttraumatic soft tissue defect of the fingers with first and second toe pulp free flaps in nine patients from February 1999 to April 2000, and obtained adequate functional recovery as well as satisfactory aesthetic appearance. In our case, maximal flap was 2.5 x 2 cm in size, and the dorsal digital artery of the foot, subcutaneous vein and branch of the dorsal deep peroneal nerve were used as a neurovascular pedicle of the flap. All patients gradually recovered a discriminative sensibility, with static two-point discrimination test between 7 and 16mm and a moving two-point discrimination test between 6 and 13mm. The advantages of this free flap from toe(mainly second toe) are minimal donor site morbidity including arterial system, one-stage operation and shorter rehabilitation period. We consider that the free toe pulp flap using dorsal digital artery of the foot is a useful method for reconstruction of small finger soft tissue defect.