[Dorsal cutaneous adipofascial flaps of long fingers]

Abstract

We report a series with the adipofascio cutaneous flap of the dorsal aspect of long fingers used with an anterograde or retrograde pedicle. Thirty flaps were performed in 29 patients with a mean age of 43 years, 16 cases in emergency and 13 cases secondary for the treatement of traumatic sequelae. The adipofascial pedicle was retrograde for 22 flaps and anterograde for 8 flaps. The donor site was adjacent of the cutaneous defect in 21 cases or at a distance in 9 cases. Transcient veinous congestion was observed in 2 cases. No necrosis was reported. A second surgery of plasty was performed in 1 case for a cutaneous bulk. The quality of the cutaneous coverage gave any functional discomfort and was evaluated very satisfying. These flaps have an important adaptabily of utilization depending on the localisation and the size of the cutaneous defect as well as the quality of its surrounding skin. The homodigital feature of these flaps avoids the disadvantages of the dorsal hand flaps or the heterodigital flaps. Due to their anastomotic vascularisation, these flaps are reliable and therefore can be recommended for the treatment of dorsal cutaneous defects of long fingers less than 2.5 cm.