• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2001

Purpose : Loss of sensibility over the finger tip resents a grave deficit and is an indication for sensible soft tissue reconstruction. This paper was performed to assess the long term results obtained by nerovascular island flap. Material and Methods : We performed neurovascular island graft for defective sensibility of finger tip loss in 94 cases since 1979 to 2000. The recipient sites were the thumb pulp defect in 79 cases, the amputated thumb in 9 cases, the amputated index in 4 cases, and the velar aspect of interphalangeal joint of thumb in 2 cases. The donor flaps were obtained from the radial side of ring finger in 63 cases, the ulnar side of the ring finger in 21 cases, and the ulnar side of the middle finger in 10 cases. A mean follow-up period was 5.7 years. Results : The flap quality was well vascularized and survived in 89 cases. The two-point discrimination was average 8.7mm. Because of scar contracture, the range of motion of the donor finger was decreased 3.5% of the normal finger in the distal interphalangeal joint, 8,2% in the proximal interphalangeal joint. A phenomenon of double sensibility occurred in 66 cases. Conclusion : This technique was excellent both aesthetically and functionally as a reconstruction of the Loss of fingertip.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2019

Finger reconstruction involves paramount significance of both functional and aesthetic aspects, due to its great impact on quality of life. The options range from primary closure, skin grafts, local flaps, pedicled flaps, and free flaps. The optimal method should consider various circumstances of the patient and surgeon. We would like to report a case of a young woman who initially presented with cellulitis and necrosis of the left second finger-tip who underwent reconstruction with bilateral toe pulp free flap. The patient could successfully return to her job that involves keyboard typing and playing the piano, with acceptable donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 1998

Reverse digital artery flaps were performed successfully to resurface the fingertip defect in 13 patients as noninnervated pattern and in 12 patients as innervated pattern from March 1993 to February 1996. No loss of flap in this series was noted. Refinements in flap design and surgical technique resulted in favourable functional and ethetic results. The average two-point discrimination of the reconstructed fingertip was 7.2mm and 4.5mm in the noninnervated and innervated flaps, respectively. This flap is an one of the ideal and reliable option for reconstruction of fingertip defects.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2011

Purpose: The subcutaneous pocket graft of the thumb tip amputation across or proximal to the lunula is chosen in case of impossible microvascular anastomosis and in patient who strongly desired to preserve the thumb tip after failed replantation. Materials and Methods: Two patients who underwent a subcutaneous pocket graft for a thumb tip reconstruction between August 2008 and November 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. They were all males with a mean age at the time of surgery of 48 years and had sustained complete thumb tip amputations across or proximal to the lunula. In one case, the microsurgical replantation was not feasible and the other one revealed arterial insufficiency at the 7th day after microsurgical replantation. Results: Authors had experienced 2 cases of flaps which survived completely. The results of sensibility was good, the range of motion at interphalangeal joint and tip to tip pinch was acceptable and color mismatch and loss of thumb finger nail was unacceptable after more than 1 year follow up with conventional successful thumb tip replantation. Conclusion: The subcutaneous pocket graft could be chosen in thumb tip amputation in case of impossible microvascular anastomosis as well as who strongly desires to preserve thumb tip after failed replantation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2004

Flaps are necessary, when important structures such as bone, tendon, nerve and vessel are exposed. Arterialized venous free flap is suited to the coverage of finger and hand because the thickness of venous flap is thin. Authors performed 65 cases arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of the hand and finger. The size of donor defect were from $1{\times}1cm\;to\;7{\times}12cm$. The mean flap area was $9.1cm^2$. The recipient sites were finger tip in 34 cases, finger shaft in 29 cases and hand in 2 cases. The donor sites were volar aspect of distal forearm in 40 cases, thenar area in 17 cases and foot dorsum in 6 cases. The types of arterialized venous free flap were A-A type in 4 cases and A-V type in 61 cases. The length of afferent vein was from 0.5 cm to 3 cm (mean 1.7 cm) and efferent vein was from 1 cm to 10 cm (mean 2.2 cm). 58 flaps(89.2%) survived eventually. 42 flaps(64.6%) survived totally without any complication. 8 flaps(12.3%) showed the partial necrosis but they were healed without any additional operations. 8 flaps (12.3%) showed the partial necrosis requiring the additional skin graft. We had a satisfactory result by using arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of finger and hand. We believe that volar aspect of distal forearm, thenar area, foot dorsum are suited as a donor site and the short length of the flap pedicle, the strong arterail inflow affect the survival rate of arterialized venous free flaps.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Purpose: First introduced by Buncke and Rose in 1979, the neurovascular partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp free tissue transfer has been attempted to reconstruct posttraumatic finger tip injuries. Although some surgeons prefer other reconstructive methods such as skin graft and local flap, we chose the partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp flap owing to its many advantages. We report three successful surgical cases in which the patients had undergone this particular method of reconstruction. Methods: We retrospectively examined three cases of fingertip injury patients due to mechanical injury. Bone exposure was seen in all three cases, All had undergone partial toe pulp free flap for soft tissue defect coverage. Results: All flaps survived without any complications such as partial necrosis, hematoma or dehiscence. Although tingling sensation has returned in both cases, two-point discrimination has not returned yet. Currently no patient is complaining of any pain which gradually improved during their course of recuperation. All stitches were removed on postoperative 2 weeks. Patients are satisfied with the final surgical result and there are no signs of any edema or hematoma. Conclusion: The homodigital reconstruction of finger tip injury using the partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp flap has numerous advantages compared to other reconstructive modalities such as its resistance to wear and tear and in that it provides a non-slip palmar digital surface. However it requires microsurgery which may not be preferred by surgeons. Advanced age of the patient can be a relative contraindication to this approach since atheromatous plaque from the donor toe can compromise flap circulation after surgery. We report three successful cases which patient age was considered appropriate. Further investigation with a larger number of cases and long term follow-up is deemed necessary.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lateral middle phalangeal finger flap for pulp and palmar defect of the finger. Materials and methods: We performed the lateral middle phalangeal finger flap in thumb pulp defect 4 cases and the palmar defect of other finger 3 cases. Mean age was 38(25-53) years old and there were male 6 cases and female 1 case. Sensate flap was performed in 4 cases of thumb pulp defects. Mean follow-up period was 14(7-22) months. Results: All flaps were survived. Mean static two-pint discrimination of sensate flap 4 cases was 8(6-10) mm. The sensation of donor finger tip was normal in all cases. Limitation of range of motion of the donor fingers was absent. Patients complained of transient cold intolerance 1 month after surgery but didn't complain of that in all cases at last follow-up. Conclusions: The advantages of the lateral middle phalangeal finger flap are the preservation of the ipsilateral palmar digital nerve, good sensory reconstruction of the fingertip, well maintained donor finger mobility with minimal exposure of the extensor tendon, cosmetically good appearances of donor finger, and easy raising as a large flap. So we suggest that this flap is versatile for reconstructing of relatively large pulp defect of the thumb and the palmar defects involving the joint of finger.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2007

This study was designed to introduce free toe tissue transfer using infiltration method of local anesthetic agent. Four toe pulp tissues were transferred to reconstruct finger tip defect in four patients who were not suitable for general anesthesia. Two flaps taken from the lateral side of the great toe was used for reconstruction of thumb defect and two flaps from the medial side of the second toe for resurfacing of the index and fifth finger. Flap sizes were various from $2.0{\times}2.0\;cm^2$ to $1.6{\times}4.0\;cm^2$. Anesthesia was induced by infiltration of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (with 1:100,000 epinephrine) with dilution of normal saline in same volume unit, as like as in ordinary digital block. All vessels were anastomosed within 2 cm of distance from the proximal margin of the defect. Whole operative procedures were carried out by one team. All flaps were successfully taken without complication. The average operation time was 4 hours 10 minutes. The amount of anesthetic agent used in whole operative procedures was roughly 4 mL in the toe, 8 mL in the finger, and 12 mL totally. In conclusion, free toe tissue transfer using infiltration method of local anesthetic agent would be good strategy for finger tip reconstruction in the patient not suitable for general anesthesia.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 1998

Radial forearm flap is one of the most useful skin flap in hand reconstructuion with distally based reverse pedicled or free vascularized fashion. Athors modified that flap into reverse pedicled and free vascularized flap which has advantages of both methods. The modification composed with harvesting flap on recipient side distal forearm just as free flap, than apply it as reverse distal pedicled flap fashion with microvascular anastomosis with distal vascular stump of donor radial vessels. We underwent this method in 5 cases in finger reconstruction from 1996, all of the cases had sucessful results. The advantages of this method are: 1. Thin flap which is compatible to finger skin can harvest from distal forearm with very long vascular pedicle that can be passed under the subcutaneous tunnel which avoid additional skin incisions on the hand. 2. The vessels of donor site and recipient site are same vessel in effected side of forearm, which can preserve contralateral side forearm and hand keep intact. 3. The flap can cover the defects on distal portion of the fingers which is difficult in conventional reversed radial forearm pedicled flap because of limited mobilization of flap due to limitation of pedicle length reach to tip of the fingers.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2014

Purpose: Soft tissue reconstruction is essential for recovery of finger function and aesthetics in any traumatic defect. The authors applied a reverse homodigital artery island flap for soft tissue defect on distal part of digits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure. Materials and Methods: Seven cases of soft tissue defects of finger tip were included in this study. There were six male and one female, mean age was 43 years and mean follow-up period was 38 months. The length of flaps ranged from 2.0 to 2.5 cm and width ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 cm. Flap survival, postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: All flaps survived without loss. Donor sites were repaired with primary closure in five cases and skin graft in two cases. None of the patients showed significant complications and their average finger motion was $255^{\circ}$ in total active motion at the last follow-up. Conclusion: The authors suggest that the reverse homodigital artery island flap could be a versatile treatment option for the soft tissue defect on distal part of digits.