The free dorsoradial forearm perforator flap: anatomical study and clinical application in finger reconstruction

The perforator flaps are characterized by their thinness and the adjustable length of their vascular pedicle. The purpose of this investigation is to refine the anatomy of the perforators in the middorsoradial forearm and present our clinical experience using this free perforator flap in the reconstruction of finger defects. Anatomic study was conducted on 46 cadaver forearms. It was noted that a perforator was consistently observed in the midforearm exhibiting 4 patterns, in which a dorsoradial perforator was present with 37 cases (80.4%) originating from the interosseous artery system (patterns 1-3) and 9 cases (19.6%) from the descending branch of the radial recurrent artery (pattern 4). This perforator consistently emerged in the intermuscular septum between the extensor carpi radialis longus and extensor digitorum communis. Twenty free flaps based on this middorsoradial cutaneous perforator were elevated for the coverage of soft tissue defects of fingers (range: 3 cm × 2.0 cm to 5 cm × 2.5 cm) in 17 patients. All the flaps survived with satisfactory outcomes. Clinical findings on this perforator in terms of its origins and courses coincided with the anatomic results (χ2 = 0.287, P = 0.962). The free flap based on this perforator is a reliable perforator flap in spite of varied origins.