Application of free vascularized flaps based on the distal perforator of ulnar artery in repairing hand soft tissue defect / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the surgical methods and clinical application effects of repairing hand soft tissue defect with free vascularized flaps based on the distal perforator of ulnar artery.Methods From March, 2001 to December, 2012 in our hospital, 90 patients with hand soft tissue defects were repaired by free vascularized flaps based on the distal perforator of ulnar artery, including 74 patients cases were repaired by Phase Ⅰ emergency surgery, 16 patients cases with scar contracture were repaired by Phase Ⅱ surgery.There were 34 cases were rebuild the sensory by repaired the continuity between the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve and dorsal digital nerve or palmar digital nerve.The free vascularized flaps that used the emerging point of perforator of the ulnar artery as center of the flap was designed, which based on the distal perforator to repairing the hand soft tissue defect.Results All 89 patients postoperative flaps were survived.Necrosis was seen in 1 flap which was repaired by skin grafting.Follow-up ranged from 3 to 36 months with an average of 12 months.The appearance of flap was not clumsy, the quality was good.The sensation was S3-S3+ in 34 cases after nerve reconstruction surgery.The active and passive activity of 16 cases with scar contracture were improved significantly.The incision in 72 cases for direct suture were healed without scar contracture, 18 cases of skin grafts were all survived without contracture.Conclusion The free vascularized flaps based on the distal perforator of ulnar artery has constant perforating point, which can carry sensory nerves and leads to little donor site damage without major vascular injury.The flap serves as a simple approach to repair hand defects, and get satisfied skin flap appearance and texture, the fingers feel and function recovered well.