title: [Improved pedicled superficial iliac circumflex artery flap for reconstruction of hand and forearm wounds].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effectiveness of the improved pedicled superficial iliac circumflex artery flap for repairing serious wound of the hand and forearm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2008 and June 2011, 13 cases of serious wound of the hand and forearm were treated. There were 9 males and 4 females with a mean age of 41 years (range, 23-64 years). The disease causes included twist injury by machine in 2 cases, wire rope squeezed injury in 4 cases, traffic accident injury in 3 cases, crushing injury in 2 cases, high voltage electrical injury in 1 case, and snake bites in 1 case. There were 10 cases of fresh wounds and 3 cases of infection and necrosis wounds, and all had bone and tendon exposure. The skin and soft tissue defects ranged from 7 cm x 3 cm to 22 cm x 6 cm. The pedicled iliac artery flap was used in 8 cases, and pedicled iliac artery composite flap in 5 cases. The flap size ranged from 12 cm x 4 cm to 27 cm x 8 cm, with the flap pedicle of 2-4 cm wide strip and 3-5 cm wide fascia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pedicle of flap was cut at 3 weeks in 12 patients, and at 4 weeks in 1 patient who had partial avulsion and hemorrhage at 1 week after operation. All flaps survived and incisions at donors and wounds healed by first intention. Eleven patients were followed up 6-36 months (mean, 20 months). The flap color and texture were good; 3 bulky flaps were observed, and satisfactory appearance was achieved after skin flap thinning. After 6 months, the protective sensation recovered in all cases; according to the Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association evaluation of upper extremity function trial standard for total active motion of the fingers, the results were excellent in 9 cases, good in 1 case, and poor in 1 case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved fascia pedicled superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flap can repair serious hand and forearm injury, which is easy-to-operate and less injury at donor site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi Guizhou 563003, PR China. xiujunsszx@163.com
authors.forename: Xiujun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zairong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xueqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult