[Application of skin flaps with supra-carpal cutaneous branch of the ulnar artery and dorsal carpal branch of the anterior interosseous artery in reconstruction of complicated amputaled palm].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical efficacy of carpal branch of ulnar artery skin flap and dorsal carpal branch of anterior interosseous artery skin flap in replantation of complicated severed hand.


METHODS
From August 1999 to October 2005, 18 patients with complicated severed hands were treated in our department. According to the skin defect of severed hand, the palm of the hand was restored with upper carpal branch of ulnar artery skin flap (2-4 cm x 3-6 cm), followed by restoration of the back of the hand with dorsal carpal branch of anterior interosseous artery skin flap (4-6 cm x 5-8 cm) and replantation of the hand was performed simultaneously.


RESULTS
All the replanted hands and the skip flaps survived after the surgery with satisfactory shape and function. The surgery achieved an over 70% recovery of the hand function in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
For complicated severed hands, upper carpal branch of the ulnar artery skin flap and dorsal carpal branch of the anterior interosseous artery skin flap are effective to repair the skin defect, and this procedure provides a good option for reconstructing shape and function of the severed hands.
Mei
Liang-bin
LB
Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Wang
Gang
G
Liu
Yong
Y
Ren
Yi-jun
YJ
Wang
Rui-jin
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012092:Replantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000601:surgery