Digital replantation by Flow-through flap from the fibular side of great toe / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The severity of tissue injury varies with the causes of the amputated finger. Simple soft tissue, vessels or nerves injury could be easily repaired by adjacent finger flap or abdominal flaps. However, these treatments are short of long repair time, reoperation and unsatisfactory appearance of the finger. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficiency of Flow-through flap from the fibular side of great toe to repair skin and soft tissue defects in digital replantation. METHODS:From January 2011 to October 2013, Flow-through flap from the fibular side of great toe was applied to repair soft tissue injury in digital replantation for 11 cases (8 males and 3 females, age ranged from 23 to 42 years. Skin defects ranged from 2.0 cm ×1.5 cm to 4.0 cm×2.2 cm; vascular defect ranged from 1-3 cm, 1.5 cm averagely; and the flap size ranged from 2.2 cm×1.7 cm to 4.5 cm×2.5 cm. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The folow-up time of al patients was 6-18 months. Digital replantation was successful in al the 11 cases. Ten cases were healed by first intention, and one case was gradualy rescued after dressing change. Patients were satisfied with the flap and the peripheral sensation. The peripheral discrimination of patients was 4 to 10 mm. The fingers functioned wel in flexion and extension. Of the 11 cases, 9 cases were valued excelent and 2 cases was rated as good, according to the upper extremity function evaluation standard of the Hand Surgey Branch of Chinese Medical Association. Flow-through flap from the fibular side of great toe is an ideal method to repair skin soft tissue and vascular defects in digital replantation.