RESUMO
Objective:To investigate the surgical technique and clinical effect of the island flap of dorsal branch of proper palmar digital artery in repair of the soft tissue defect of digits.Methods:From March 2013 to March 2021, 22 cases of digit soft tissue defects were repaired with dorsal branch of proper palmar digital artery island flap. The digit defects involved: 9 thumbs, 5 index fingers, 3 middle fingers, 3 ring fingers and 2 little fingers. The repair of defects covered 8 digit-tips, 7 pulps and 7 dorsal and nail beds. The defected area of soft tissue was 0.8 cm×0.5 cm-1.5 cm×8.0 cm, and the size of flap was 1.0 cm×0.7 cm-1.8 cm×1.0 cm. The donor site in 6 cases was closed directly. The other 16 cases were covered with medium thickness skin graft and pressurised bandaging. The follow-up reviews were carried out via the outpatient clinic visit, telephone or WeChat interview. Results:After operation, 1 flap had cyanosis due to a tight suture and it was relieved after the removal of intermittent suture; Tension blisters appeared in 2 cases and disappeared after 1 week; One case had necrosis at distal flap and healed after dressing change. Other flaps survived successfully and the incision and donor site healed in the first stage. All patients were entered to 6 to 18(mean 10) months of follow-up. At the final follow-up, the appearance and texture of the flaps were good and the protective sensation was restored. The flexion and extension function of the affected digit was normal with the TPD at 7-11 mm. The original shape and function of the digit body were basically reconstructed, except the failure in reconstruction of the special structure of digit body, such as nail, finger pulp thread and fine sensation. According to the Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Function of Chinese Hand Surgery Society, 11 cases were in excellent, 9 in good and 2 in fair. The excellent and good rate was 91%. The function at donor sites was not affected.Conclusion:Repair of digit soft tissue defect with dorsal branch of proper palmar digital artery island flap is easy to operate, and with a low risk, high success rate and satisfactory curative effect.
RESUMO
Objective:To describe the reconstruction of palmar soft tissue defect of digit using dorsal digital flaps including double dorsal branches of the proper palmar digital nerves (DBPPDN) and report the results of the application of the flaps.Methods:From May, 2005 to April, 2019, a retrospective study was conducted on 113 digits of 113 patients who had palmar soft tissue defects in single digit treated with 4 types of dorsal digital flaps with bilaterally DBPPDN. Flap types: ① Modified cross-digit flap in 29 digits of 29 cases; ②Dorsal digital flap based on the dorsal branch of proper palmar digital artery (DBPPDA) in 43 digits of 43 cases; ③First dorsal metacarpal artery flap in 23 digits of 23 cases; ④ Free dorsal digit flap in 18 digits of 18 cases. In control group, single-innervated flap was used for repair of the defects, only one of injured proper palmar digital nerves on both sides was repaired with DBPPDN. Static TPD, VAS and patient satisfaction of the injured digits were evaluated by means of outpatient follow-up. The t test was applied to compare the 2 groups in relation to the quantitative outcomes. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:In the dual-innervated flap group, flap ischemia was shown in 11 digits and venous congestion was noted in 7 digits. Partial necrosis was noted in 9 flaps and healed without surgical intervention. In the dual-innervated and single-innervated flap groups, the mean static TPD were (6.92±0.12) mm and (8.92±0.20) mm, the score of VAS were (0.46±0.08) and (1.11±0.28), and patient satisfaction were (4.45±0.06) and (4.00±0.16). Significant difference was found between the 2 groups in static TPD, VAS and patient satisfaction. Dual-innervated flaps presented better discriminatory sensation on the flap ( P<0.01) and lower pain incidence ( P=0.0032) and higher patient satisfaction ( P=0.0014). Conclusion:The 4 types of dual-innervated flap are useful in reconstruction of palmar soft tissue defects of digits, especially in prevention of neuropathic pain.