title: [Application of the island flap at the dorsum of the middle phalange with the pedicel of the digital proper artery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore a method for the treatment of the skin defects at the distal phalanges of 2-5th fingers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The island flap at the dorsum of the middle phalange was designed with the pedicle of dorsal branches from the digital proper artery. When the flap was used to repair defect at finger pulp, the dorsal branch of the digital proper nerve in the flap was kept to be anastomosed to the digital proper nerve at the recipient finger. From Feb. 2005 to May. 2010, 54 cases with skin defects at the distal phalanges of 61 fingers were treated with the flap, including 35 defects at finger pulp and 26 defects at finger tip.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum size of defects and flaps was 2.2 cm x 2.5 cm and 2.4 cm x 2.7 cm, respectively. 61 flaps survived completely. Blister was happened in 3 flaps 2 days after operation, which healed spontaneously without necrosis. 54 cases were followed up for 5 to 22 months (average, 11 months). The flaps had good texture and color match with normal sensation (grade S4). The 2-point discrimination distance was 6-9 mm. The interphalangeal joint had normal movement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The island flap at the dorsum of the middle phalange is an ideal method for the skin defect at the distal phalange of finger.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Renqiu City People' s Hospital, Renqiu 062550, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Chao
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shuang-Xi
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhen-Xi
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hao-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Fang-Rui
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jun-Yue
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D055815:Young Adult