Hourglass dorsal metacarpal island flap: a new design for syndactylized web reconstruction

Web space reconstruction is the key point and an important component of syndactyly treatment. A design of the dorsal metacarpal artery flap was used as an island flap based on the direct cutaneous branch arising from the dorsal metacarpal artery at the distal end of the flap to reconstruct congenital web syndactyly. The flap rotated from 0 degrees to 180 degrees and passed under a skin bridge at the distal end of the flap to reach the web defect. Such design enables a better use of the skin territory from the intermetacarpal space proximal to the pedicle, with a short donor site scar and a more supple reconstruction of the web space.