Free Thoracoacromial Artery Perforator Flap for Skin Defects of the Dorsal Hand

Various flaps are used for skin defects of the dorsal hand and fingers. A sensory flap is not essential, but a thin and good color-matched flap is suitable, and donor site mobility of the flap should be considered. A reverse or free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap is one of the standard flaps. This flap requires no major arterial sacrifice, but direct closure of the donor site is difficult when the width of the flap is >3 cm, and there is also the risk of posterior interosseous nerve injury, especially the motor branch of the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle. The deltoid or acromial branch of the thoracoacromial artery has a large skin perforator, and this perforator is the vascular pedicle of the free thoracoacromial artery perforator flap. This flap is not bulky, is pliable and well color-matched for the dorsal hand, and direct closure of the donor site is easier than the posterior interosseous artery perforator flap. A free thoracoacromial artery perforator flap based on the deltoid or acromial branch is a good option for dorsal hand and finger reconstruction.