title: Fingertip reconstruction with a flap based on the dorsal branch of the digital artery at the middle phalanx: a simple and reliable flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is of utmost importance for hand surgeons to rehabilitate injured fingertips aesthetically and functionally. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of the dorsal branch (DB) finger flap on fingertip reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the flap based on the DB of the proper digital artery for fingertip reconstruction in 3 patients at the primary stage. The size of the flaps ranged from 1.5 × 2.0 cm to 2.5 × 4.5 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DB finger flaps in our series survived uneventfully during the follow-up period (range, 4-6 months). All the patients were contented with the aesthetic and functional outcomes of the flaps. The average static and moving 2-point discrimination of the flaps was 8.5 mm and 7.2 mm, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This sort of flap based on the DB of the proper digital artery was a simple and reliable alternative to reconstruct fingertip defects at the primary stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, JiangSu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Pei-Ji
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*