title: Free distal ulnar artery perforator flaps for the reconstruction of a volar defect in fingers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A volar defect in finger is a common manifestation in hand injuries, and proper volar coverage of fingers is of great significance for hand function and cosmetic appearance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study is to investigate the feasibility of reconstructing a volar defect in fingers with the free ipsilateral distal ulnar artery perforator flap under the brachial plexus block.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight free distal ulnar artery perforator flaps were used to reconstruct volar defects in eight fingers. The involved fingers were three index fingers, three long fingers, one thumb, and one ring finger. The sizes of flaps ranged from 3.0 × 4.0 to 3.0 × 11.0 cm. All the flaps were harvested from the ipsilateral forearm of the injured fingers. The donor sites were primarily closed except in one case with a skin graft. The operation time ranged from 120 to 150 min, with an average of 130 min. All the operations were performed under brachial plexus block.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps survived completely without any complications during the 4-18 months follow-up. All the patients were satisfied with the hand function and the cosmetic appearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It might be a good workhorse flap to reconstruct the volar defects in fingers in hand surgery with the free distal ulnar artery perforator flaps.
authors: Department of Hand Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Road No. 1277, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Hand Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Road No. 1277, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 München, Germany. Electronic address: zhenghuaiyuan@126.com.
authors: Huaiyuan
authors: H
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Finger; Free distal ulnar artery perforator flap; Microsurgery; Volar defects