title: Reconstruction of Moderate-Sized Hand Defects Using a Superficial Lateral Sural Artery Perforator Flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The skin on the lower leg has abundant perforators and, thus, is an excellent donor site for transplant tissue flaps. However, due to vascular variations and body positions, tissue flaps at the posterolateral proximal portion of the lower leg are rarely used for transplantation. This study reports our experience with the use of superficial lateral sural artery perforator (SLSAP) flaps in the repair of moderate-sized hand wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2012 to April 2015, the hand wounds of 15 patients were planned for repair using a superficial sural artery perforator flap. In total, 6 patients had a defect in the palm of the hand, 5 in the dorsum of the hand, and 3 in the finger; 1 patient sustained a contracture of the first web space.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 12 of the 15 cases, an SLSAP flap was successfully harvested. In the remaining 3 cases, the planned harvest of an SLSAP flap was converted to the harvest of a superficial medial sural artery perforator flap during the operation. The flaps ranged in area from 1.8 × 3.8 cm to 5.5 × 6.5 cm. Primary suture of the donor site was performed in all cases. Dissection of the muscular tissue was avoided. After the operation, venous crisis occurred in 1 case, and a partial area of necrosis developed at the distal end in 1 case. The flap survived in all other cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience showed that the SLSAP flap is suitable for reconstruction of moderate-sized hand defects.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command, Kunming; and †Graduate School, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yue-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jia-Zhang
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fanzhe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yong-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D011379:Prognosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult