Free Superficial Radial Artery Flap for Traumatic Finger Defects

Abstract

Management of traumatic finger injuries is common practice in the emergency department. Many local flaps or free flaps(superscript 1-11,16) have been advocated for the reconstructions of such conditions. Here we present a new flap designed by Sakai^11. From January 2003 to June 2004, six patients with fingertip injuries were treated with a superficial radial artery flap from the wrist. This series included one woman and five men, aged from 19- to 45-years-old. All suffered from traumatic crushing injury of the hands. In two patients, two fingers were covered with this flap simultaneously. All of the flaps were survived, except one patient with partial necrosis, which healed by secondary intension. All of the donor wounds were closed primarily and healed uneventful, except one patient with partial dehiscence of the wound edge and this healed by secondary intension. No other major complications were encountered. In conclusion: This flap is suitable for small size defect of finger injury. The advantages include well preservation of the major artery; thin, pliable, hairless flap; multiple variable components; and possible sensory restoration.