title: Free lateral tarsal artery perforator flap with functioning extensor digitorum brevis muscle for thenar reconstruction: a case report.
abstract: In this case report, we describe reconstructive surgery in one patient using a free lateral tarsal artery perforator flap with a functioning extensor digitorum brevis muscle. A 47-year-old woman sustained a crush-avulsion injury to her dominant right hand while working in a factory. A large thenar skin and muscle defect (5.5 cm × 4.0 cm) occurred as a consequence of surgical debridement. The skin and muscle defect was repaired using a free lateral tarsal artery perforator flap with a functioning extensor digitorum brevis muscle in a single operation. The donor site defect was repaired using a full-thickness skin graft. The patient recovered without postoperative complications. The patient showed satisfactory functional gain without significant donor site morbidity at the 4-year follow-up visit. Thus, we have demonstrated that a functional reconstruction of a thenar skin defect complicated by muscle loss is possible by transferring a free lateral tarsal artery perforator flap with the underlying extensor digitorum brevis muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Rui Hua Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, 5 Tayun Road, Yuexi Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, 215104, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tianliang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Rui Hua Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, 5 Tayun Road, Yuexi Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, 215104, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.|Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Subei People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Subei People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Junbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Rui Hua Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, 5 Tayun Road, Yuexi Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, 215104, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. gujiaxiang69@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ruixing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Hand injury; Lateral tarsal artery; Reconstruction; Surgical flaps