title: [Efficacy observation on repair of finger pulp defects and sensory reconstruction of children with the perforator propeller flaps based on the end dorsal branch of digital proper artery in the same finger].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical outcomes of the use of the perforator propeller flaps based on the end dorsal branch of digital proper artery in the same finger in repair of finger pulp defects and sensory reconstruction in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three children (31 fingers) with index, middle, ring or little finger pulp defects were hospitalized from September 2012 to December 2013. The area of finger pulp defects ranged from 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm. The perforator propeller flaps based on the end dorsal branch of digital proper artery in the same finger were used to repair the defects, with the flap size ranging from 1.3 cm × 1.2 cm to 2.2 cm × 1.6 cm. The dorsal branch of the digital proper nerve of the flap was conducted end-to-end anastomosis with the broken end of the nerve of the wound to reconstruct sensation. The donor sites were covered with autologous full-thickness skin obtained from inner aspect of the thigh.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary healing of the wounds and donor sites were achieved in all 23 children. All the flaps and skin grafts of donor sites survived. All the patients were followed up for 6 to 20 months, with mean time of 14 months. At the last follow-up, the flaps and donor sites were in good appearance, the finger pulps were mellow and plump, with no obvious pigmentation or cicatricial contracture. The sensation of finger pulps reached S3(+), and the distance of two-point discrimination ranged from 4.5 to 6.0 mm, with mean distance of 5.1 mm. Twenty-one parents of the patients were strongly satisfied with the appearance of the repaired fingers, and the other 2 parents also expressed satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transplantation of the perforator propeller flap based on the end dorsal branch of digital proper artery in the same finger is a safe and reliable method for the repair of index, middle, ring, and little finger pulp defects and sensory reconstruction of children. The flaps are with good blood supply, appearance and sensory function after operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
authors.forename: Shiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
authors.forename: Zaiyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
authors.forename: Youlun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
authors.forename: Yunjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China; Email: southeastsun@163.com.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D002648:Child; D003286:Contracture; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D061525:Perforator Flap; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing