Neurocutaneous island flaps in the hand: anatomical basis and preliminary results.

The neurocutaneous flap is an axial flap composed of one vein and one nerve, the arterial vascularisation of which is provided by the vascular plexus around and inside the nerve. The vascularisation of the radial and ulnar nerves on the dorsal aspect of the hand were studied in 20 fresh upper limbs. There is always a consistent arterial longitudinal plexus alongside the nerves, which links the cutaneous perforating arteries. On the basis of our anatomical findings, neurocutaneous island flaps with retrograde flow were raised on the hands of five patients and are reported on.