title: Anastomosis to the common and proper digital vessels in free flap soft tissue reconstruction of the hand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study seeks to demonstrate the safety of anastomosing free flaps to the common or proper digital artery, and to the volar or dorsal digital vein in soft tissue reconstruction of the hand; as well, as to discuss the advantages of this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of all patients who underwent free flap reconstruction of the hand in two institutions over a period of 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 29 free flaps (9 great toe pulp, 7 anterolateral thigh, 6 second toe pulp, 4 radial artery perforator, 2 partial medial rectus, 1 lateral arm) in 28 patients met our inclusion criteria. All recipient vessels were the proper or common digital artery and the volar or dorsal digital vein. There was one case of venous congestion that resolved with leeching. There was no partial or total loss of any of the flaps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anastomosing soft tissue free flaps to the common or proper digital artery, and the volar or dorsal digital vein is a safe and effective approach with numerous advantages that should be considered in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the hand. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 38:21-25, 2018.
authors.affiliation: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9280-7693
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz-Abele
authors.affiliation: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.affiliation: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buchel
authors.affiliation: The Buncke Clinic, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: The Buncke Clinic, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buntic
authors.affiliation: The Buncke Clinic, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Safa
authors.affiliation: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Islur
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery*