Anterior Interosseous Flap Research Articles

Our experience with the anterior interosseous artery fasciocutaneous flap for local and distant soft tissue reconstructions

Martin and his colleagues in 1989 described for the first time a fasciocutaneous flap based on a posterior branch of the anterior interosseous artery (AIA). Despite its promising characteristics, this flap never achieved popularity and the literature about it is limited. The aim of the present study is to share our experience with the AIA flap both as a local and free flap in reconstructing defects of various body regions. A retrospective review of 26 consecutive patients operated between January2001 and August 2020 was conducted. Seventeen male and nine female patients, mean age 52 years, underwent reconstruction of local and distant soft tissue defects using the AIA flap. Fourteen flaps were raised as free flap and 12 as local flaps for a total of 26 flaps. The locations of the defects included the face, the lower limb, the hand dorsum, and fingers. Twenty-four out of 26 flaps survived completely, and two pedicled flaps presented partial necrosis, with one requiring a new free flap procedure. One free anterior interosseous flap required revision of the venous anastomosis. Two donor site dehiscence were observed, and they both healed by secondary intention healing. Follow-ups were conducted for a mean of 18 months. All patients showed good contour restoration of the affected body part. The AIA flap, either free or pedicled, represents a reliable tool to perform "like-with-like" reconstructions of hand defects. In some occasions, it is well suited for shallow defects in other body parts.

Radius graft pedicled on the anterior interosseous artery for recurrent ulnar nonunion

Recurrent ulnar nonunion challenges the functional prognosis and raises major problems concerning the best therapeutic strategy to follow. The case of a female patient presenting recurrent nonunion of the ulnar diaphysis despite successive treatments is reported. The radius graft pedicled on the anterior interosseous artery from a retrograde approach obtained bone union in 3 months with no functional sequelae. For the first time, we propose a therapeutic alternative calling on a proximally pedicled anterior interosseous flap. This technique can be performed under locoregional anesthesia and does not sacrifice the main artery of the forearm. However, the size of the graft does not entirely compensate for segmentary bone loss. The radius graft pedicled on the anterior interosseus artery is an inventive technique that can solve the problem of difficult ulna nonunions without the disadvantages of vascularized fibula harvesting.

Clinical Experience With Free Anterior Interosseous Flaps

Despite versatility of the forearm as a flap source, anterior interosseous flaps from the dorsal forearm has not gained popularity among other alternatives. In our clinical experience, we investigated the feasibility of free anterior interosseous flap as a donor site. Between January 2002 and January 2006, 10 free anterior interosseous flaps were used in 10 consecutive cases. Five flaps were used for coverage of the defects of the hand and fingers, whereas another 5 flaps were used for head and neck defects. In all cases, this flap was selected when a thin flap was needed. All flaps survived completely except 1, where partial marginal necrosis was seen, and this necrosis was healed by secondary intention. Only 2 donor sites could be closed directly, and the others were skin grafted. Free anterior interosseous flap is a useful alternative with distinct advantages: it is a thin flap, major extremity arteries are preserved, the vascular pedicle is long enough and caliber is satisfactory for microsurgery, composite flaps with tendon, bone, nerve, and muscle are available, and it has a good texture, especially for hand defects. The 2 major disadvantages are visible donor area scar and technically demanding dissection. In conclusion, free anterior interosseous flaps are a good selection and should be in the armamentarium of a microsurgeon, when a thin flap is needed for hand and head and neck reconstruction.

Reversed anterior interosseous flap

Reversed flaps from the forearm have been firmly established for hand coverage. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The reversed anterior interosseous flap is one option with special advantages in hand reconstruction. From January 2002 to July 2003 we used this flap in five consecutive male patients aged between 36 and 59. The defects were located on the first web space (2), on the dorsal side of the thumb (1), on the first metacarpal bone (1), and on the volar side of the wrist (1). Flap size was between 6 x 3 cm and 11 x 7 cm. All flaps healed without any problem and no complication was observed during the postoperative period. The major advantage of this flap is the preservation of the main arteries of the upper limb. Other advantages are as follows: good texture and colour for hand reconstruction, satisfactory rotation arc, and availability of composite and fascial flaps. Besides its advantages, the major disadvantages are unsightly donor area scar and the need for meticulous technique. As a conclusion, we found this flap very useful in hand reconstruction for coverage of small and moderate sized soft tissue defects of the hand.

16: Clinical Experience with Free Anterior Interosseous Flap

16: Clinical Experience with Free Anterior Interosseous Flap

Clinical Experience with the Free Anterior Interosseous Flap

Forearm flaps can be used as free tissue transfers safely and with versatility. Forearm skin is thin and the vascular anatomy is constant. Although radial the forearm flap is the most popular forearm flap, several flaps can be harvested based on different pedicles. The anterior interosseous flap is one of those alternatives; however, it has not gained popularity among other options. This flap is harvesrted on the dorsal side of the forearm based on the dorsal septocutaneous branch of the anterior interosseous artery.

Le lambeau interosseux antérieur dans la chirurgie du poignet et de la main : à propos de 15 cas

Fifteen anterior interosseous flaps were used to reconstruct wrist and hand defects in fifteen patients (thirteen men and two women) with a mean of 38 years (27-42 years). Seven anterior interosseous osteoperiosteal flaps and eight anterior interosseous osteocutaneous flaps were used. Seven island flaps and eight free flaps based on the anterior interosseous artery were raised. The indications were scaphoid non-union (4 cases), first metacarpal non-union (2 cases), proximal phalanx non-union (1 case), Kienböck's disease (2 cases), osteocutaneous phalangeal defects (3 cases), osseous capitatum defect (1 case) and intracarpal arthrodesis (2 cases). Postoperatively, one fracture of the distal end of the radius was noted because of a large osteoperiosteal corticotomy. Osseous reconstruction was usually consolidated at three months. One failure was noticed (Kienböck's disease). No significant deformity was noticed in the donor site. The anterior interosseous flap seems to be a useful alternative to reconstruct small or moderate defects in wrist and hand surgery.

Reconstruction Of The Hand With Forearm Island Flaps

From all of the flaps reviewed, it is important to know how to select the most suitable choice in each case. Aside from the technical expertise of the surgeon, the indication depends on the size and the location of the substance loss. For large defects in any location, the radial forearm flap remains the most reliable and safest choice. For children and women, the authors prefer distant pedicled transfers or free flaps to minimize cosmetic donor site morbidity. For small or medium defects that cannot be managed by a local transposition flap, the indication is based on the location of the wound. Palmar defects, if proximal and ulnar, may be covered using the dorsal ulnar flap, with little morbidity in the donor area. The anterior interosseous flap seems a better choice whenever vascularized tendon, nerve, or bone are needed also. For the first web space and neighboring radial defects, the posterior interosseous flap provides a reasonable alternative. Dorsal defects of the hand can be reconstructed with a posterior interosseous flap, provided there is no suspicion of injury to the anastomotic dorsal system of the wrist. The anterior interosseous flap is a good choice for composite osteocutaneous transfers. For complex composite defects, the ulnar artery forearm flap distally based may be indicated for reconstructive problems requiring vascularized flexor tendons. The anterior interosseous flap is able to provide excellent quality vascularized bone. Indications depend above all on the surgeon's experience and on the different schools. As always, the better flap is that which is performed by the surgeon who has mastered the particular surgical technique. In conclusion, this article is devoted to an update on forearm flaps and illustrates the innovative strength of this specialty. It also points out that, through in depth knowledge of the anatomy, flaps may be raised from many anatomic regions of a limb without disturbing the main vascular axis of that extremity. Minimizing the donor site morbidity while maximizing the quality of the reconstruction is the primary concern when indications are established for reconstructive hand surgery, which is where one of the authors' main research efforts resides.