title: Vascularized Heterodigital Island Flap for Fingertip and Dorsal Finger Reconstruction.
abstract: A heterodigital vascularized island flap can functionally restore large soft tissue defects to the injured fingertip in a single stage. It is optimally used for digits of unequal length so that the donor fingertip is not violated, and the skin island is best taken from the less dominant side of the donor finger. Because it is a transposition flap with a proximal axis of rotation, its transposition arc can also reach the dorsum of an adjacent digit. This article describes how the heterodigital arterialized flap preserves the donor finger digital nerve and distal pulp, thus reducing donor site morbidity. Indications, method of flap elevation, and flap design will be reviewed to optimize case selection, minimize donor site morbidity, and enhance safety of flap elevation and transposition.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX; Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, Houston, TX.
authors: Dang T
authors: DT
authors: Pham
authors: Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, Houston, TX; Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Electronic address: netscher@bcm.edu.
authors: David T
authors: DT
authors: Netscher
mesh_terms: D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Donor site morbidity; fingertip reconstruction; heterodigital island flap; local arterialized flap