title: Repair of minor tissue defect in hand by transfer of free tissue flap from the toe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To introduce our experience of using the free neurovascular flap from great and second toe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients (fifteen fingers) sought surgical treatment for soft tissue defects of the hand at our medical institution between March 2006 and September 2009. In two patients, fibular side skin-nail flaps of great toe were applied to cover the dorsal defect of distal thumb. In twelve, the treatment was carried out for the pulp defect of finger with fibular side flap of great toe or tibial side flap of second toe. In one, the treatment was carried out for the defect of distal middle with composite flap with distal digital bone of second toe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps survived. The average subjective satisfaction score was 8.08 (range 4-10). Nine patients (69%) experienced cold intolerance, and 2 patients (15%) dysesthesia. The Semmes-Weinstein sensitivity score was between 3.47and 4.72 on the flap, and 0-4.18 on the donor site. The mean two-point discrimination was 6.8 mm (range 4-12). Grip strength was 10% less than in the unaffected hand. The proximal interphalangeal mobility loss was less than 15 degrees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that these free flaps from toe are useful for patients with a small soft-tissue defect in hand.
authors.affiliation: Haitao Tan MD, Xiang Luo MD, Keqin Yang MD, Jianzhong Jiang MD, Pingou Wei MD, Orthopedics Department, The Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 537100, Guigang, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Haitao Tan MD, Xiang Luo MD, Keqin Yang MD, Jianzhong Jiang MD, Pingou Wei MD, Orthopedics Department, The Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 537100, Guigang, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Haitao Tan MD, Xiang Luo MD, Keqin Yang MD, Jianzhong Jiang MD, Pingou Wei MD, Orthopedics Department, The Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 537100, Guigang, China.
authors.forename: Keqin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Haitao Tan MD, Xiang Luo MD, Keqin Yang MD, Jianzhong Jiang MD, Pingou Wei MD, Orthopedics Department, The Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 537100, Guigang, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Haitao Tan MD, Xiang Luo MD, Keqin Yang MD, Jianzhong Jiang MD, Pingou Wei MD, Orthopedics Department, The Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 537100, Guigang, China.
authors.forename: Pingou
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Haitao Tan MD, Xiang Luo MD, Keqin Yang MD, Jianzhong Jiang MD, Pingou Wei MD, Orthopedics Department, The Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 537100, Guigang, China.
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: Free neurovascular flap; Hand tissue defect; Toe