[Application of reverse island flaps pedicled with cutaneous nerve nutrient vessels to repair defect on distal parts of extremities].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the feasibility of reverse island flaps pedicled with cutaneous nerve nutrient vessels in repairing the defect on distal parts of extremities.


METHODS
Thirty patients with tissue defect in distal extremities, complicated by exposed vessels, nerve, tendons, and/or bones ,were repaired with island flaps pedicled with neurocutaneous nutrient vessel. Among them, five cases were grafted with flaps with external forearm cutaneous nerve vessels, eleven cases were grafted with flap containing sural neural nutrient vessels in its pedicle,and 14 cases with saphenous nerve nutrient vessels in the pedicles.


RESULTS
The flaps of 28 cases survived with perfect appearance and function. In one case partial necrosis occurred because of compression on the pedicle, but the patient healed after dressing, and another case with necrosis of the edge of the flap due to infection, but also healed after skin grafting.


CONCLUSIONS
The reverse island flaps pedicled with cutaneous nerve nutrient vessels which are constant in anatomy, with reliable blood supply, can be recommended because its simple operative technique, non-injurious to main blood vessels and muscles, the repair of distal defects of the extremities.
Wang
De-yun
DY
Department of Burns, the Third Hospital of Wuhan, PR China.
Xie
Wei-guo
WG
Wang
Li-fang
LF
Zhang
Wei
W
Liu
Jie-feng
JF
Chen
Kang
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation*; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult