title: The posterior interosseous flap for soft-tissue cover of the hand.
abstract: The management of soft-tissue defects of the hand with exposed bone and tendons may be difficult. The posterior interosseous flap is a fasciocutaneous island from the dorsal forearm, based on the posterior interosseous vessels. We have used this flap as a one-stage procedure to cover soft-tissue defects of the hand in 6 patients. It provides excellent cover without sacrificing a major blood vessel such as the radial artery. Although the vascular anatomy of the flap is normally consistent, variations exist. This prevented elevation of 1 of the flaps in our series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tygerberg Hospital, W. Cape.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Engelbrecht
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bruce-Chwatt
mesh_terms: D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing