Repair of finger pulp defect by using arterialized venous dorsal finger flap with sensory nerves / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore a new microsurgical method for reconstruction of finger pulp defect.Methods From May 2008 to May 2009,10 male patients with finger pulp defect were treated in our hospital,aged from 18 to 38 years (average,26 years).The index finger was involved in 6 patients,the middle finger in 3 patients and the ring finger in 1 patient.All finger pulp defects were caused by machine injury.The defect sizes ranged from 1.5 cm×2.0 cm to 2.0 cm×3.0 cm.Six patients suffered from single skin defect,and 4 patinets suffered from skin defect combined with nail bed laceration and distal phalangeal fractures.All patients were performed emergency operations.The defects were reconstructed by using arterialized venous flap with microsurgical suture of the dorsal branch of the proper digital nerve.The fractures were fixed by Kirschner wires.The donor area was covered with skin grafts.Results All flaps survived completely.The fractures healed 8 to 10 weeks postoperatively.All patients were followed up for 4 to 6 months,all flaps presented satisfactory appearance,normal texture,with no pigmentation at the last followup.The static 2-point discrimination of the flaps ranged from 8 to 12mm.All injured fingers obtained good recovery of flexion and extension of the distal interphalangeal joints.The nails of the fingers with laceration of nail bed grew smoothly.The nail bed with laceration grew smoothly,and some new nails could be seen.The skin grafts applied to the donor area survived completely.Conclusion The arterialized venous flap with suture of the dorsal branch of the proper digital nerve is a good method for reconstruction of finger pulp defect,which had the following advantagesslight donor injury,low anesthesia risk,simple operative technique,and satisfactory postoperative function and appearance.