An innervated cross-finger flap for fingertip reconstruction.
An innervated cross-finger flap for treatment of severe fingertip injuries is described. With this method, the dorsal skin over the middle phalanx, together with its sensory nerve, is transferred as a compound skin-nerve flap. A neurorrhaphy is performed between this nerve and the cut end of the digital nerve at the injury site. Seven of eight patients (88 percent) treated with this method (mean follow-up time 14.4 months) achieved measurable two-point discrimination. The average for those who did was 4.8 mm. A group of patients with similar injuries treated with standard cross-finger flaps exhibited slower sensory return that progressed to a lower level. In this group (mean follow-up time 16.3 months), three of six (50 percent) achieved measurable two-point discrimination with a mean value of 9 mm.
D000328:Adult; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012677:Sensation; D013524:Surgical Flaps