title: Clinical Outcomes of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Turnover Flap for Posterior Elbow Soft Tissue Defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical outcomes from 2 academic centers of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) flap for coverage of posterior elbow soft tissue defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 17 patients who underwent an FCU flap for posterior elbow wound reconstruction over an 8-year period at 2 academic centers. Outcome measures included visual analog score for pain; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score; Mayo Elbow Performance score; range of motion; wound healing; grip strength; and isokinetic dynamometry for wrist flexion. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to make side-to-side comparisons between the operative and nonsurgical extremities, and nonparametric statistical methods were used to analyze results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All wounds healed successfully without need for revision surgery. Average visual analog, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, and Mayo Elbow Performance scores in the operative elbow were 1.8, 34, and 86, respectively. Average elbow arc of motion was 11° to 140° with 70° forearm pronation and 73° forearm supination. Compared with the nonsurgical side, grip strength on the operated side was 97% and wrist flexion peak torque was 89%. The operative limb had an average wrist flexion fatigue of 7%, compared with 22% for the nonsurgical arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients receiving an FCU flap had reliable healing, minimal pain, good functional outcomes, and no meaningful deficits in grip strength or wrist flexion strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hand and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Christopher O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Bayne
authors.affiliation: Section of Hand and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Slikker
authors.affiliation: Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ruch
authors.affiliation: Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Fraser J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Leversedge
authors.affiliation: Section of Hand and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Section of Hand and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: robertwysocki@mac.com.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Wysocki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Carpi; elbow; flap; ulnaris