title: [Reconstruction of soft tissue defects at finger tip with relay flaps pedicled by perforator from digital artery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the application of relay flaps pedicled by perforator from digital artery for reconstruction of soft tissue defects at finger tip.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Mar. 2012 to Jun. 2014, 9 cases with soft tissue defects at finger tip were reconstructed with relay flaps at one side of finger pedicled by perforator from digital artery. The flap size ranged from 1.3 cm x 1.6 cm to 1.6 cm x 2.2 cm. The defects at donor sites were covered by adjacent web perforator V-Y advanced flaps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 18 flaps in 9 cases survived completely with primary healing both in recipient and donor sites. The patients were followed up for 5 months to 2 years ( average, 12 months) with good elasticity and cosmetic results. No pain happened in the treated finger. The 2-point discrimination distance was 7-8 mm in fingertip flaps, and 10-12 mm in web perforator flaps. Hand function was graded as excellent in 7 cases, good in 2 cases, based on ATM assessment. The affected fingers had normal temperature and cold-resistance during winter. The width and depth of web in the donor site were not affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relay flaps pedicled by perforator from digital artery can be applied for reconstruction of soft tissue defects at finger tip. The procedure is easy with satisfactory results and reservation of main artery. No skin graft is necessary for closure of defects on donor sites.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mingyu
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yajun
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jun
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D004548:Elasticity; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D060053:Transplant Donor Site; D014945:Wound Healing