Inherent artery dorsal perforator flaps of thumb radial palmar for repair of thumb ipsilateral degree Ⅰ and Ⅱ oblique defect of the fingertip / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of inherent artery dorsal perforator flaps of thumb radial palmar for coverage of ipsilateral thumb degree Ⅰ and Ⅱ oblique defect of the fingertip.Methods The study included 6 males and 6 females,aged 10-40 years (mean 30 years),with thumb fingertip Ⅰ and Ⅱ degree defect treated between October 2009 and October 2013.Injury resulted from machinery cutting injury in 4 patients,machinery twist injury in 3,cutting by sharp weapons in 3,and crush injury in 2.There were 6 patients with Ⅰ degree defect and 6 patients with Ⅱ degree defect.Defects were all oblique involving more in the radial side rather than in the ulnar side and reconstructed with thumb radial palmar artery perforator flaps.Flap ranged in size from 1 cm × 2 cm to 1.5 cm × 2.5 cm.Donor site was covered with skin grafts.Observation indexes were wound healing condition,flap color,flap swelling degree,and flap temperature.Finger function was measured with upper extremity scoring system formulated by Hand Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association.Results All flaps survived and achieved good protective sensation.Wound healed primarily.Color,temperature and texture of the flap returned to almost normal.Moderate swelling of the flaps was detected and subsided around one week.All patients were followed up for 1-36 months (mean 20 months).At the final follow-up,two-point discrimination was 9-11 mm (mean 10 mm).Two patients developed distal interphalangeal joint stiffness and recovered after rehabilitation exercise.Finger function was rated as excellent in 10 cases and good in 2.Conclusion Inherent artery dorsal perforator flap of thumb radial palmar has affirmative effect and allows maximum preservation of finger length and function when applied to repair ipsilateral thumb degree Ⅰ and Ⅱ oblique defect of the fingertip.