Deqing Hu1, Zairong Wei2, Tianquan Wang3, Xu Hong3, Heping Zheng3, Jian Lin4. 1. Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China. hudeqing1987@126.com. 2. Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, 563003, China. 3. Department of Comparative Medicine, Fuzong Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University (The 900th Hospital of PLA), Fuzhou, 350025, China. 4. Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital (Chongming) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. linjian998877a@163.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Soft-tissue defects of the thumb and index finger remain a challenge for plastic surgeons. Our purpose was to observe the morphological characteristics of the cutaneous vessels in the first web, to design a dorsal perforator flap based on the palmar artery in the first web and to propose its clinical application. METHODS: Thirty preserved hand specimens were dissected to observe the origin, course, branch and anastomosis of the dorsal perforators in the first web, and the dorsal perforator flap based on the palmar artery in the first web was designed. Clinically, seven cases of hand defects were reconstructed using this flap. RESULTS: The blood supply for the dorsum of the first web comprised the dorsal perforators from both the dorsal artery (the branch of the first dorsal metacarpal artery) and palmar artery (the radial palmar digital artery of the index finger and the ulnar palmar digital artery of the thumb). The first dorsal metacarpal artery constantly arose from the radial artery and was divided into the radial, ulnar and medial branches. The palmar artery sent out 1-2 perforators and formed a constant anastomosis with the medial branch of the first dorsal metacarpal artery to supply the dorsal skin of the first web. In clinical application, all the flaps survived completely without contracture of the first web or other complications and the donor regions all healed at the first stage. CONCLUSION: The dorsal perforator flap based on the palmar artery in the first web is useful to repair soft-tissue defects of the thumb, the proximal phalanx of the index finger and thenar region, leading to a satisfactory appearance and good functional and sensory recovery.
PURPOSE: Soft-tissue defects of the thumb and index finger remain a challenge for plastic surgeons. Our purpose was to observe the morphological characteristics of the cutaneous vessels in the first web, to design a dorsal perforator flap based on the palmar artery in the first web and to propose its clinical application. METHODS: Thirty preserved hand specimens were dissected to observe the origin, course, branch and anastomosis of the dorsal perforators in the first web, and the dorsal perforator flap based on the palmar artery in the first web was designed. Clinically, seven cases of hand defects were reconstructed using this flap. RESULTS: The blood supply for the dorsum of the first web comprised the dorsal perforators from both the dorsal artery (the branch of the first dorsal metacarpal artery) and palmar artery (the radial palmar digital artery of the index finger and the ulnar palmar digital artery of the thumb). The first dorsal metacarpal artery constantly arose from the radial artery and was divided into the radial, ulnar and medial branches. The palmar artery sent out 1-2 perforators and formed a constant anastomosis with the medial branch of the first dorsal metacarpal artery to supply the dorsal skin of the first web. In clinical application, all the flaps survived completely without contracture of the first web or other complications and the donor regions all healed at the first stage. CONCLUSION: The dorsal perforator flap based on the palmar artery in the first web is useful to repair soft-tissue defects of the thumb, the proximal phalanx of the index finger and thenar region, leading to a satisfactory appearance and good functional and sensory recovery.
Entities:
Keywords:
Hand defects; Perforator flap; Radial palmar digital artery of the index finger; The first dorsal metacarpal artery; Ulnar palmar digital artery of the thumb
Authors: Phillip N Blondeel; Koen H I Van Landuyt; Stan J M Monstrey; Moustapha Hamdi; Guido E Matton; Robert J Allen; Charles Dupin; Axel-Mario Feller; Isao Koshima; Naci Kostakoglu; Fu-Chan Wei Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 4.730