title: Local neurovascular island flap.
abstract: Fingertip amputation, with loss of the terminal pulp and bone exposure presents a difficult problem. Reconstruction with use of a local neurovascular island flap has been done in twenty-one patients to restore sensibility and function with preservation of length. All patients achieved two-point discrimination values within two millimeters of the normal contralateral fingertip, with adequate pad for pain-free pinch. We advocate this procedure for deep pulp loss over the distal phalanx. It is reliable, single-staged, and provides skin coverage closer to normal than any regional flap technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, McLaren General Hospital, Flint, Mich.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jakab
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pollock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps