[Compound vascularized island joint transfer in hand surgery. Apropos of a series of 16 cases]

Sixteen compound island joint transfers performed in 14 patients were reviewed with a mean follow up of 37.6 months. 15 were harvested from a non conservable "finger bank" and one as an homodigital islanded DIP to PIP transfer. The "donor" joint was an MP joint (7 cases), a PIP joint (5 cases) and DIP joint (4 cases). The reconstructed joint was the MP joint (10 cases) or the PIP joint (6 cases). If we exclude one failure (arthrodesis), the average range of flexion was 45 degrees for MPJ and 42 degrees for PIPJ. In selected cases with good patient motivation, available "donor" finger and intact flexor tendon in recipient digit, this technique provided a one stage composite reconstruction, a good lateral stability in pinch with possibility of growth in children and long term preservation of the articular cartilage.