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Color Doppler imaging of an ulnar artery perforator forearm flap for resurfacing finger defects
Xiang-Qian Shen1, Hui Shen, Ji-Hua Xu
1From the Department of Hand Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Fingertip defect reconstruction with various free perforator flaps has been widely reported. We recommend a technique of using color Doppler imaging to locate ulnar artery perforator. And we used a free mesioforearm flap based on ulnar artery perforator for the reconstruction of fingertip defect.
Patients And Methods:
Since 2010, 7 fingertip defect cases have been repaired at our hospital using free mesioforearm flaps, based on the ulnar artery perforator. The free flap was designed according to Doppler detection. The flap contained perforator vessels and cutaneous nerves. The donor site was directly sutured or skin grafted.
Results:
All 7 flaps survived with good quality and esthetic contours and grasp function of the hand was satisfactory. They were evaluated by 2-point discrimination, with 5 cases with neurorrhaphy of 6 to 8 mm and 2 cases without neurorrhaphy of 10 to 12 mm.
Conclusions:
Ultrasound is a suitable method for preoperatively locating the vascular pedicle. The free mesioforearm flap based on ulnar artery perforator is a good option to repair fingertip defect.
