Clinical application of forearm arterialized venous flap in repair of finger soft tissue defects / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the surgical method and clinical effect of forearm arterialized venous flap in repair of soft tissue defects of fingers.Methods:A total of 13 cases of finger soft tissue defects with exposure of deep tissue were repaired with forearm arterialized venous flap from January, 2013 to October, 2019. The flap was designed in the forearm, and 2 parallel superficial veins were selected, the diameter of vein was similar to that at recipient site. The long axis of the flap was the same as that of the vein, and the width of the flap was divided into 3 equal parts by the 2 superficial veins. The free flap was cut longitudinally in the middle between 2 vessels under microscope, and a width of about 2 mm of the subcutaneous tissue was removed to the subdermal vascular network. The communicating branch between 2 vessels was ligated, and the subcutaneous tissue between 2 vessels was cut completely. The flap was not inverted, and the cut area was 3.5 cm× 2.5 cm-7.0 cm×4.0 cm. The proximal ends of the 2 vessels in the flap were anastomosed with the arteries and veins of the recipient area.Results:Thirteen flaps survived, and 9 patient entered follow-up for an average of 11(3-23) months. The flaps were soft and had no effect on the joint movement, slightly bloated. The TPD of flaps was 9 - 18 mm, with an average of 13 mm.Conclusion:Forearm arterialized venous flap has the advantages of high survival rate, satisfactory function, finger pulp-type change, superficial location, easy harvest and no sacrifice of main artery. It is an ideal method for repairing finger soft tissue defects.