title: [V-Y advancement of skin flap pedicled with upper limb lateral branch for small skin defect in the dorsal elbow].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To research the method and effectiveness of V-Y advancement of skin flap pedicled with the upper limb lateral branch in the treatment of small skin defect in the dorsal elbow.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2008 and August 2010, 6 cases of skin defect in the dorsal elbow were treated by V-Y advancement of skin flap pedicled with the upper limb lateral branch, including 4 males and 2 females with a mean age of 53 years (range, 16-76 years). Defects were caused by crushing in 3 cases, by punching in 2 cases, and the disease duration was 4 hours 30 minutes to 7 days (mean, 29.5 hours); and by chronic infection in 1 case, and the disease duration was 12 months. The defect size ranged from 4.0 cm x 2.5 cm to 9.5 cm x 3.5 cm, all complicating by bone or tendon exposure. The flap size ranged from 6.0 cm x 4.0 cm to 12.5 cm x 9.5 cm; the donor sites were sutured directly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps survived completely, wounds and incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. Six cases were followed up 6-12 months after operation. The flaps had good texture and color. Two-point discrimination of the skin flap was 12-16 mm. The function of limb was normal, and elbow flexion and extension activity averaged 105 degrees (range, 95-125 degrees).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is ideal to treat small skin defect in the dorsal elbow with V-Y advancement of skin flap pedicled with the upper limb lateral branch because of easier operation and less injury at donor site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Wuxi Hand Surgery Hospital, Wuxi Jiangsu, 214062, P R China. zhouxiaowuxi@sohu.com
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Kuishui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shou
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries