Propeller flap with cutaneous branch of digital artery for skin defect at children’s thumb tip / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To summarize the effect of propeller flap pedicled with cutaneous branch of digital artery for skin defect at children’s thumb tip.@*Methods@#From December 2012 to October 2015, 12 children with skin defects at thumb tip were treated. The nail matrix was kept in 4 cases, partly injuried in 8 cases. The skin defects size ranged from 1.0 cm×1.0 cm to 1.5 cm×2.0 cm, all more than the size of nail roots. A triangular flap on lateral side of thumb was designed with cutaneous branch of digital artery on thumb ulnar side at wound edge. The defects at donor sites were covered with skin grafts.@*Results@#The flap size ranged from 1.0 cm×1.0 cm to 1.5 cm×2.0 cm. All the flaps and skin grafts survived with primary healing. The children were followed up for 6-12 months(average, 8 months). The flaps had soft texture and good color match and thickness. The cosmeticresult was satisfactory with normal nail growth. According to the standard of the hands of the Chinese Medical Association functional evaluation trial, the hand function was assessed as excellent in 9 cases, good in 3 cases 6 months after operation.@*Conclusions@#Propeller flap with cutaneous branch of digital artery is suitable for the skin defect at children’s thumb tip with both satisfactory cosmetic and functionalresult . Themethod is easily performed with reliable venous drainage and less morbidity.