The Lateral Middle Phalangeal Finger Flap for Pulp and Palmar Defects of the Finger

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2006;15(1):33-37.
Published online May 31, 2006.

Duke-Whan Chung, M.D., Jae-Hoon Lee, M.D.

수지 첨부 및 수장부 연부 조직 결손에서 시행한 외측 중위 수지 피판술

정덕환, 이재훈

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lateral middle phalangeal finger flap for pulp and palmar defect of the finger.
Materials and methods: We performed the lateral middle phalangeal finger flap in thumb pulp defect 4 cases and the palmar defect of other finger 3 cases. Mean age was 38(25-53) years old and there were male 6 cases and female 1 case. Sensate flap was performed in 4 cases of thumb pulp defects. Mean follow-up period was 14(7-22) months.
Results: All flaps were survived. Mean static two-pint discrimination of sensate flap 4 cases was 8(6-10) mm. The sensation of donor finger tip was normal in all cases. Limitation of range of motion of the donor fingers was absent. Patients complained of transient cold intolerance 1 month after surgery but didn't complain of that in all cases at last follow-up.
Conclusions: The advantages of the lateral middle phalangeal finger flap are the preservation of the ipsilateral palmar digital nerve, good sensory reconstruction of the fingertip, well maintained donor finger mobility with minimal exposure of the extensor tendon, cosmetically good appearances of donor finger, and easy raising as a large flap. So we suggest that this flap is versatile for reconstructing of relatively large pulp defect of the thumb and the palmar defects involving the joint of finger.

Key Words: Thumb, Finger, Pulp defect, Lateral middle phalangeal finger flap.