The use of the reverse radial fasciosubcutaneous flap to provide soft tissue coverage and a distal recipient artery in a difficult case of toe-to-thumb transfer

Abstract

Traumatic amputation of the thumb is a devastating injury. Toe-to-hand [Wei FC, Chen HC, Chuang CC, Chen HT. Microsurgical thumb reconstruction with toe transfer: selection of various techniques. Plast Reconstr Surg 1992;93:345; Wei FC, Tarek AE. Toe-to-hand transfer: current concepts, techniques and research. Clin Plast Surg 1996;23:103] transfer is a sophisticated option for replacing this vital structure, but this challenging procedure, is even more demanding if recipient vessels are difficult to locate, inadequate or even absent. Another frequently encountered difficulty in cases of traumatic thumb amputation is inadequate soft tissue cover in the region of the amputation stump or the first web space. Often this defect or potential defect requires a preliminary tissue transfer procedure, before toe-to-hand transfer can be considered.