[Clinical application of retrograde island flap from back of the hand]

With the blood vessels filled with dye, 12 fresh specimens of adult human hand were dissected. At web spaces, anastomoses between artereiae palmariae dorsales and arteriae digitalis palmares communes or their branches were always present. The anastomotic branch was 0.4-0.8 mm thick and 11-14 mm long, and was accompanied by 2 veins, lying superficially in the subcutaneous space. With the anastomotic branch as an axis and the arteriae palmares dorsales as pedicle, a retrograde island flap back of the hand was designed and employed to cover skin defect of finger in 11 patients. One of the flaps was transposed together with an extensor tendon. The defect was covered by suturing together the skin edges on both sides and healed nicely. The 11 transpositioned flaps varying from 3.5 x 2.2 cm2 in size were taken successfully. Follow-up examination for 2-10 months after operation revealed fine texture of and good sensation over the flaps, and good function of the transplanted extensor tendon. We conclude that this kind of flap is physiologically sound and easy to be made for the repair of palmar defect and in finger defect.