Vascular anatomy of the finger dorsum and a new idea for coverage of the finger pulp defect that restores sensation.

The cutaneous vascular anatomy of the finger dorsum was studied by dissection under loupe magnification of 71 fingers from 19 preserved cadaver hands. All specimens were injected with red latex or epoxy resin through a cannula in the brachial artery to identify the small vessels. The finger dorsum was supplied by the terminal branches from the dorsal metacarpal artery around the metacarpophalangeal joint. Other areas were nourished by the dorsal cutaneous branch from the proper palmar digital artery. There were two or three dorsal branches in the proximal phalangeal region and two in the middle phalangeal region. On the basis of these findings, we have developed a new method for one-stage reconstruction of finger pulp defect that restores sensation. Our innervated reverse vascular pedicle digital island flap includes the dorsal digital nerve and the proper palmar digital artery as a retrograde vascular pedicle. We have used the technique in three patients, with excellent results. The advantage of this procedure is that it provides a one-stage reconstruction of the pulp defect and restores sensation. The disadvantage is that the procedure requires neurorrhaphy.