1/35. Free medial plantar perforator flaps for the resurfacing of finger and foot defects.In this article, three cases in which free medial plantar perforator flaps were successfully transferred for coverage of soft-tissue defects in the fingers and foot are described. This perforator flap has no fascial component and is nourished only by perforators of the medial plantar vessel and a cutaneous vein or with a small segment of the medial plantar vessel. The advantages of this flap are minimal donor-site morbidity, minimal damage to both the posterior tibial and medial plantar systems, no need for deep dissection, the ability to thin the flap by primary removal of excess fatty tissue, the use of a large cutaneous vein as a venous drainage system, a good color and texture match for finger pulp repair, short time for flap elevation, possible application as a flow-through flap, and a concealed donor scar.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/35. Microsurgical medialis pedis flaps for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in the hand.The medialis pedis flap (MPF) has been used for the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in the hand since 1990. From January 1997 through January 2000, 19 patients (15 male, 4 female) with hand injuries underwent microsurgical MDF reconstruction at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. There were finger injuries in 16 patients and palm defects in 3 patients. The mean patient age was 32.6 years (age range, 16-58 years). Flap size ranged from 4.5 x 2 cm to 7 x 6 cm (mean, 6 x 2.8 cm). Only one flap had partial loss. The donor site was closed primarily in 9 patients, and was closed using a split-thickness skin graft in 9 patients and a full-thickness skin graft in 1 patient. At a mean follow-up of 13 months, the protective sensation was 16 mm using the static two-point discrimination test and was 10 mm using the moving two-point discrimination test. Based on this retrospective study the authors conclude that (1) the MPF has the advantages of thin and glabrous skin, (2) the size of pedicle is compatible with the recipient vessel in the hand, (3) there is low donor site morbidity, and (4) achieving protective sensation is possible.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/35. Fingertip replantation using the subdermal pocket procedure.Restoration of finger length and function are the goals of replantation after fingertip amputation. methods include microsurgical replantation and nonmicrosurgical replantation, such as composite graft techniques. To increase the survival rates for composite grafts, the subcutaneous pocket procedure has been used as a salvage procedure. The subdermal pocket procedure, which is a modification of the subcutaneous pocket procedure, was used for replantation of 17 fingertips in 16 consecutive patients. Eight fingertips experienced guillotine injuries and the other nine fingertips experienced crush injuries. Revascularization of one digital artery without available venous outflow was performed for six fingers, and composite graft techniques were used for the other 11 fingers. The success rate was 16 of 17 cases. The difference in success rates for guillotine versus crush injuries was statistically significant. Comparison of patients with arterial anastomoses and patients without arterial anastomoses also indicated a statistically significant difference. Thirteen fingertips survived completely. One finger, demonstrating complete loss and early termination of the pocketing procedure, was amputated on the eighth postoperative day. Two fingers were partially lost because of severe crushing injuries. One finger demonstrated partial loss of more than one quarter of the fingertip, which required secondary revision, because the patient was a heavy smoker. The pocketing period was 8 /- 1 days (mean /- SD, n = 6) for the fingers revascularized with one digital arterial anastomosis and 13.3 /- 1.9 days (n = 10) for the fingers successfully replanted with composite graft techniques. The mean active range of motion of the interphalangeal joint of the three thumbs was 65 /- 5 degrees, and that of the distal interphalangeal joint of the other 11 fingers was 51 /- 11 degrees. The static two-point discrimination result was 6.4 /- 1.0 mm (n = 14) after an average of 11 /- 5 months of follow-up monitoring. Compared with other methods, the subdermal pocket procedure has the advantages of exact subdermal/subdermal contact, a shorter pocketing period, and more feasible observation. The method can offer an alternative salvage procedure for fingertip amputations with no suitable vessels available for microsurgical replantation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/35. A-a type, arterialized, venous, flow-through, free flap for simultaneous digital revascularization and soft tissue reconstruction-revisited.Significant soft tissue injuries to palmar surfaces are frequently associated with digital vessel damage. Flap coverage might have to be combined with microsurgical revascularization using vein grafts if the digit is to be salvaged. Two cases of simultaneous digital revascularization and soft tissue reconstruction using an arterialized, venous flow-through flap are presented in detail. These flaps initially "pinked up" for 24 to 48 hours. This was followed by a period of venous congestion lasting approximately 1 week, after which flap perfusion gradually returned to normal. Good long-term functional and cosmetic results were achieved. Distal finger perfusion was maintained in both cases. This technique, although previously described, has not been popularized. It should be considered early in reconstruction of ischemic digits requiring simultaneous vascular and soft tissue reconstruction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/35. Microsurgical second dorsal metacarpal artery cutaneous and tenocutaneous flap for distal finger reconstruction: anatomic study and clinical application.In this paper, we report on the anatomical study of 34 cadaveric forearms with red latex injection and the clinical application of this study to 11 cases of microsurgical second dorsal metacarpal artery (SDMA) flaps. There were 8 cutaneous cases and 3 tenocutaneous cases using SDMA flaps for distal finger reconstruction. The SDMA was classified into 2 types and 4 subtypes according to its anatomical origin and course. Type I (76.5%) originated from the dorsal branch of the radial artery at the snuffbox. Type II (23.5%) originated from the perforating branch of the deep palmar arch at the bases of second and third metacarpal bones. Diameter of the SDMA was 1.2 /- 0.2 mm at its snuffbox origin, and 1.0 /- 0.1 mm at the base of the second and third metacarpal bones. Clinically, microsurgical SDMA free flaps were raised and transferred for repair of finger injuries. Ten flaps survived completely. One flap failed due to thrombosis of vascular anastomosis. In conclusion, the second dorsal metacarpal artery is a constant and reliable vessel for microvascular anastomosis in microsurgical SDMA flap transfer. This flap can be used as an alternative for hand and finger reconstruction, and especially repair of a distal phalanx, when either an orthograde or retrograde island SDMA flap is unable to reach the defect.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/35. Clinical applications of free soleus and peroneal perforator flaps.Clinical applications of two free lateral leg perforator flaps are described: a free soleus perforator flap that is based on the musculocutaneous perforator vessels from one of the three main arteries in the proximal lateral lower leg, and a free peroneal perforator flap that is based on the septocutaneous or direct skin perforator vessels from the peroneal artery in the distal and middle thirds of the lateral lower leg. The authors applied free soleus perforator flaps to 18 patients and free peroneal perforator flaps to five patients with soft-tissue defects. The recipient site was the great toe in 14 patients, the hand and fingers in five patients, the leg in two patients, and the upper arm and the jaw in one patient each. The largest soleus perforator flap was 15 x 9 cm, and the largest peroneal perforator flap was 9 x 4 cm. Vascular pedicle lengths ranged from 6.5 to 10 cm in soleus perforator flaps and from 4 to 6 cm in peroneal perforator flaps. All flaps, except for the flap in one patient in the peroneal perforator flap series, survived completely. Advantages of these flaps are that there is no need to sacrifice any main artery in the lower leg, and there is minimal morbidity at the donor site. For patients with a small to medium soft-tissue defect, these free perforator flaps are useful.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/35. Biceps femoris perforator free flap for upper extremity reconstruction: anatomical study and clinical series.BACKGROUND: Perforator flaps are an important development in reconstructive surgery. The description of new perforator flaps is an open field in anatomical and surgical research. methods: The anatomy of the musculocutaneous perforating vessels of the short head of the biceps femoris muscle was investigated as a possible source for free tissue transfer in 10 fresh specimens. A series of 10 free biceps femoris perforator flaps for upper extremity reconstruction is described. RESULTS: There were three constant sizable perforators, located at 6 cm (range, 5 to 6.5 cm), 11.6 cm (range, 10 to 14 cm), and 15.3 cm (range, 14 to 17 cm), respectively, from the knee joint line. The distalmost perforator was a branch off the superior lateral genicular artery in all anatomical specimens. The middle perforator was a direct branch off the popliteal artery in 60 percent of the cases and off the profunda femoris in the remaining 40 percent. The uppermost perforator was usually a branch off the middle perforator. The flaps of the clinical series were based on the middle perforator (11.6 cm). All 10 free flaps were used for upper extremity trauma coverage, with a 100 percent success rate, although one flap required pedicle revision because of arterial thrombosis and developed partial necrosis. Donor-site delayed wound healing occurred in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The vascular anatomy is relatively constant. Flap dissection is straightforward under tourniquet control, donor morbidity is low provided a primary closure is possible, and pedicle size is appropriate for repair. When a moderate-size free flap with moderate thickness and a medium-sized pedicle is needed, the biceps femoris perforator flap should be considered in the first-choice group of donor areas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/35. Single-stage reconstruction of the flexor mechanism of the fingers with a free vascularized tendon flap: case report.The reconstruction of the flexor tendon in zones I and II of a ring finger in a single stage, using a free vascularized tendon graft, is reported in a single clinical case. The flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon of the same finger was freely transferred based on a vascular branch off the ulnar vessels. The ulnar artery was reconstructed with an end-to-end anastomosis, and the free flap was connected to the superficial palmar arch. The functional result was satisfactory.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/35. Cosmetic reconstruction of distal finger absence with partial second toe transfer.The authors successfully performed a series of 32 distal finger reconstructions using partial second toe-to-finger transfers solely for aesthetic indications. The resulting hand function shows an average static 2-point discrimination of 8 mm. Total active range of motion was 205 degrees. Key-pinch strength and grip strength averaged 65 and 90% of the normal contralateral side, respectively. patient satisfaction, as reflected by the average subjective satisfaction scores for aesthetic appearance and function (SSSAF) of the reconstructed distal finger, was high at 82 and 78, respectively. The SSSAF for the donor site averaged 88 for function and 75-80 for aesthetic appearance, which is statistically significant (p<0.05). The authors modified the technique of distal finger reconstruction using second toe transfers in three ways. One is to skeletonize the neurovascular bundle of the harvested toe and pass it through a subcutaneous tunnel between the distal finger incision and the web space incision to avoid lengthy and unsightly scars on the reconstructed finger. Another is to defat the skin flaps developed at the amputated stump and to use a zigzag incision on the toe flap to create a smoother skin junction between the stump and the transferred toe. The third refinement is to perform the arterial microanastomosis at the level of the web space to take advantage of the larger diameter of the vessels in this area. Cosmetic reconstruction of the distal finger with a partial second toe-to-hand transfer provides a high degree of patient satisfaction, both aesthetically and functionally.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/35. Free dorsal middle phalangeal finger flap.Three patients underwent finger reconstruction using free dorsal middle phalangeal finger flaps (DMF flaps). All flaps survived. The free DMF flap relies on blood flow from the dorsal branches of the digital artery and is harvested from the skin on the dorsum of the middle phalanx. The digital artery gives rise to four dorsal branches; two in the middle and two in the proximal phalangeal regions. The flap is based on the dorsal branch of the digital artery that passes near the center of the phalanx. The characteristic feature of the free DMF flap is that the dorsal cutaneous veins are used as drainage vessels. Unlike island flaps, blood congestion does not occur after free DMF flap surgery. Sensibility of the free flap may be obtained by inclusion of the dorsal branches of the digital nerves in the flap pedicle. Loss of the digital artery at the donor site can be circumvented with venous grafting. Surgery under brachial plexus block is an advantage of this flap. The free DMF flap is a useful technique for skin and soft-tissue defects.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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