A new finger fillet design from an index finger with severe postburn flexion deformity

Treatment of postburn deformities of the hand is a real challenge to reconstructive surgeons. A functional reconstruction was achieved with two sensate island flaps on two discrete pedicles in a case with severe postburn deformity involving both thumb and index finger. Surgical treatment was based on amputation of the second ray and reconstruction of the thumb with the flaps derived from the discarded index finger. Two sensate island flaps on two discrete pedicles, "1st dorsal metacarpal artery based flap" from the dorsal aspect of the proximal phalanx and "palmar digital artery based fillet flap" composed of available volar skin of the index finger distal to contracture, were harvested and used for replacement of the soft tissue defect of the thumb that appeared after correction of bone and joint deformities. Both of the flaps survived and functional improvement was satisfactory at one-year follow-up. Despite the shortening of neurovascular bundles due to severe flexion deformity, a sensate thumb reconstruction with a better tissue match was achieved thanks to more beneficial design and orientation of two neorovascular island flaps from a deformed index finger. Instead of a single fillet flap design in its common use, our current approach allowed more beneficial use of a discarded index finger in severe postburn deformity involving both thumb and index finger.