title: Reconstruction of dorsal hand and finger defects with reverse radial fasciocutaneous forearm flaps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the midterm outcome and the degree of satisfaction of patients who underwent reconstruction of dorsal hand and finger defects with reverse flow radial fasciocutaneous forearm flaps and to test whether or not this is a reliable method which can be applied without the need for microsurgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients were admitted with post-traumatic complex hand defects and treated by reconstruction with reverse flow radial fasciocutaneous forearm flaps from January 2010 to May 2013. The patient demographics, size of the hand and finger defects, and complications were recorded. The functional status of each of the patients was evaluated using the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scoring system, and patient satisfaction was assessed using Likert scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients comprised nine males and two females with a mean age of 30.7 ± 9.7 years. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 ± 5.2 months. The average defect size was 41 ± 14.3 cm². None of the patients had circulation defects caused by the sacrifice of the radial artery. The mean quick DASH score was determined as 30.2 ± 15.3. The Likert patient satisfaction evaluation was good in one patient, and very good in ten patients. All flaps survived well with only two complications; superficial skin necrosis occurred at the suture site in one patient and venous insufficiency occurred in the other patient. Both complications recovered with secondary healing following wound debridement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reverse-flow radial forearm flap is a reliable method in the management of dorsal defects of the hand and does not require micro-surgical techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical School of Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey, dr.mali46@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güleç
authors.forename: Bahattin Kerem
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Ömer Faruk
authors.initials: ÖF
authors.lastname: Erkoçak
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elmadag
authors.forename: Faik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Türkmen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005542:Forearm; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult