title: Digital artery perforator flaps: an easy and reliable choice for fingertip amputation reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the use and efficacy of digital artery perforator (DAP) flaps in fingertip reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007 to 2011, 7 fingers of 5 patients (4 male, 1 female) underwent fingertip reconstruction with extended DAP flaps following traumatic fingertip amputation. Average flap size was 4.25 cm².
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps survived except one case in which partial skin necrosis was observed and treated with wet-dressing. Donor sites were closed with full-thickness skin grafting in 5 and primarily in 2 fingers. We did not observe hypersensitivity or cold intolerance in repaired fingers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DAP flap is a reliable, free-style perforator flap that can be used for all types of fingertip injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Surgery, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. saobasat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Salih Onur
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Basat
authors.forename: Alper Mete
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Uğurlu
authors.forename: Atakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aksan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult