title: [Repair of concurrent skin and nerve defect at palm and carpal on ulnar side with free medial plantar flap].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore a new method for repair of concurrent skin and nerve defect at palm and carpal on ulnar side.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 2000 to August 2009, five cases with concurrent skin and nerve defect at palm and carpal on ulnar side were reconstructed with free medial plantar flaps. Palmar nervous proprii defect at ulnar side of little finger was repaired by the first toe tibia nervous proprii in one case. The superficial branch of radial nerve was applied to repair the defect of ulnar nerve, as well as its deep or superficial branch in two cases. The superficial branch of radial nerve was also used to repair the defect of superficial branch of ulnar nerve, common palmar digital nerve of the fourth finger, Little finger ulnar palmar nervous proprii in one case. The dorsal branch of ulnar nerve was applied to repair the defect of superficial branch of ulnar nerve, common palmar digital nerve of the fourth finger, little finger ulnar palmar nervous proprii in one case. The vascular bundle of medial plantar flap was anastomosed with ulnar vascular bundle. The wounds at donor sites were covered with free skin grafts which were obtained from upper leg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the flaps and skin grafts were survived completely. The five patients were followed up for six months to four years with no muscular atrophy or claw hand deformity. The esthetic result was satisfied. The Sensory of flaps and fingers recovered to S3 to S3+. The two-point discrimination distance on flaps was range from 7 mm to 10 mm. The postoperative comprehensive evaluation was excellent in the cases whose superficial and deep branches of ulnar nerve were repaired.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free medial plantar flap is an effective method to repair concurrent skin and nerve defect at palm and carpal on the ulnar side.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan 063000, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Jiang
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-Long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tie-Peng
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000601:surgery; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult