Treatment of soft tissue defects at the dorsum of hand by retrograde island neurocutaneous flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve

Abstract

To report the therapeutic effect of retrograde island neurocutaneous flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve for the treatment of soft tissue defect at the dorsum of hand. 11 cases with soft tissue defects at the dorsum of hands were treated. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm to 6.5 cm x 4.0 cm. The size of the flaps ranged from 3.5 cm x 3. 0 cm to 7. 0 cm x 4. 0 cm. All the 11 flaps survived. The follow-up period was 2 months to 2 years. The texture and elasticity of the flaps were good. The appearance and function of the hands were satisfactory. The superficial sense was recovered. The wounds at the donor site of forearms were closed primarily in 7 cases, or covered by split-thickness skin grafts in other 4 cases. The appearance of the donor site was satisfactory too. The retrograde island neurovascular flap pedicled with lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve is an optimal method for soft tissue defects at the dorsum of hand.