title: Primary free functioning muscle transfer for fingers with accompanying tendon transfer for thumb provide one-stage upper extremity composite reconstruction in acute open wound.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Upper limb trauma may present as both soft tissue and muscle defects necessitating a free skin flap to effect a repair. The limb's core (basic) functionality can be returned with a secondary tendon transfer or a functioning muscle transfer. A functioning muscle flap can provide for soft tissue repair and functional restoration in a single procedure, but the success of such procedures requires further clarification.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1997 to 2006, nine patients underwent free functioning muscle transfer performed for upper extremity composite structure and functional defects, including four flexor digitorum profundus muscle and three extensor digitorum comminis muscle defects. Seven thumb tendon defects were managed with simultaneous tendon and free functioning muscle transfer. In addition, two opponensplasties and one thumb basal joint arthrodesis were performed for thumb function revision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all nine patients, procedures were completed without complications, the flaps surviving, enabling the patients to achieve opposable hand function. The muscle strength accomplished M4.2 (M3-5). The grip power was 41.7, and pinch power 55.3%, when compared with the other hand.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary functioning muscle transfer can provide a one-stage composite functional restoration in an open wound. The thumb can be reconstructed with tendon transfer followed by opponensplasty to achieve a satisfactory range of opposable function.
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan county, Taiwan. chihhung@cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zhen-Sen
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chung-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jiun-Ting
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Yu-Te
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D013933:Thumb / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult