Novel biogeometric designs of first dorsal metacarpal artery flap in hand reconstruction

Reconstruction of the soft tissue defects of the first web space and proximal dorsal thumb is still one of the most challenging problems in reconstructive surgery. Depending on the defect size, various reconstructive methods have been described, including local, regional, distant and free flaps. The authors described new biogeometric designs of first dorsal metacarpal artery flap for the reconstruction of the soft tissue defects of the first web space and the proximal dorsal thumb. These modifications are bilobed and V-Y advancement first dorsal metacarpal artery flaps. Three patients had burn wound adduction contractures of the first web space and three had acute wounds resulting from electrical burns, the defects of which were located on the first web space and on the dorsum of the thumb. The defect sizes ranged from 2.5 × 2 cm to 3.5 × 4 cm, and were reconstructed with the bilobed and V-Y advancement first dorsal metacarpal artery flaps. None of these flap modifications had any problems related to the perfusion of the flap, such as arterial insufficiency or venous congestion. The mean follow-up period was 16 months and all the patients were satisfied with the functional result and the donor site scars appearance. The bilobed and V-Y advancement first dorsal metacarpal artery flaps described by the authors for the hand reconstruction are safe, easily performed, and are versatile without skin grafts at the donor site because of inherent excellent elasticity and mobility of the dorsal hand skin.