[Application of the dorsoulnar arterial retrograde flap of the thumb to repair of soft tissue defect at the distal thumb].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce the surgical procedure and indication of the dorsoulnar arterial retrograde flap of the thumb in repair of soft tissue defect.


METHODS
From March 2000 to March 2001, 12 cases of soft tissue defect with exposed bone at the distal thumb were involved. Ten flaps were pedicled distally at the proximal rotation point, 2.5 cm proximal to the cuticule. Two flaps were pedicled distally at the distal rotation point, 1.0 cm proximal to the cuticule. The flaps harvested in this study were 1.1 cm x 1.3 cm to 1.8 cm x 2.5 cm.


RESULTS
All the flaps survived. After an follow-up of 2 to 14 months postoperatively, the appearance of the thumbs were satisfactory, except those of 2 thumbs repaired by the flaps transferred at the distal rotation point, which were bulkiness because of the uncovered pedicle. In 6 cases, the defect of finger pulp was repaired, and the 2-point discrimination was measured 8-10 mm. The same range of motion of the thumb IP joint were observed in both sides in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The optimal indication of the procedure is soft tissue defect at the distal thumb.
Department of Orthopaedics, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian Liaoning 116033, PR China.
Jin
J
Li
Jiangning
J
Wang
Weidong
W
Yang
Zhihong
Z
Tong
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013933:Thumb / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*