Repair of soft tissue defect after digit degloving injury with free medial perforator flap of arm / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and therapeutic effect of flap wrapping repair of soft tissue defect after digit degloving injury with free arm medial perforator flap.Methods:From October 2009 to December 2020, 15 patients with soft tissue defect after digit degloving injury were repaired with free arm medial perforator flaps. The patients were 9 males and 6 females aged 22 to 50 years old, with an average of 32 years old. Injury mechanism 13 cases of machine strangulation and 2 cases of machine crushing. Plane of sleeve avulsion injury at the distal metacarpophalangeal joint of thumb in 2 cases, at the middle and distal segment of single finger of 2nd to 5th fingers in 4 cases, and at distal metacarpophalangeal joint of 2nd to 5th fingers in 9 cases. Seven cases were in left hand and 8 in right hand. Emergency surgery was performed in 2 cases and scheduled surgery in 13 cases. The flap was designed in a shape of a long strip, and the size of the flap was 5.0 cm×2.5 cm-14.0 cm×3.5 cm. During the operation, the artery of the flap pedicle was anastomosed with the palmar digital proper artery or common digital artery of the recipient digit, the subcutaneous vein or the companion vein of the artery was anastomosed with the dorsal or palmar digital subcutaneous vein, and the medial brachial cutaneous nerve carried in the flap was anastomosed with the stump of palmar digital proper nerve. All the donor sites were directly sutured. After the surgery, follow-up visits were conducted regularly at outpatient clinic, or via telephone and WeChat review or by home visit. The flap appearance, sensation and function recovery of digital joints were observed together with the patient satisfaction. Results:All flaps survived successfully after surgery. Six patients with degloving defect of the whole digit had encountered poor wound healing caused by distal phalangeal necrosis. The second stage stump trimming was performed to keep the digit to the distal end of the middle segment. Two cases of thumb and 2 cases of middle finger suffered further burning and worn tears at 7-9 months after surgery and self-healed. The follow-up period was 6-28 (average 16) months. The flap was soft without bloating. The sensation recovered to S 2-S 3. The shape of fingers was good, and no secondary flap surgery was necessary. The overall movement of interphalangeal joints was poor. According to the evaluation standard of Michigan hand function questionnaire, 15 patients achieved very satisfactory with the overall appearance and function of hands. The linear scars at donor site were hidden without complications such as tenderness and contraction. Conclusion:The free medial perforator flap of the arm is easy to design and thin, hence does not affect the shape of a digit. So, it is ideal for the repair of soft tissue defect after digit degloving injury.