Resurfacing of skin defects of the hand using the arterialised venous flap.

In 22 patients an arterialised venous flap, with arterial blood only flowing through the vein of the flap, was used to cover skin defects of the hand. There were 17 complete successes, four partial successes and one complete failure. The main indications for use of the arterialised venous flap are to cover extensive skin loss with exposed bone or tendon where conventional flaps cannot be applied and to reconstruct the digital arterial defect where both revascularisation and skin coverage are needed.