Posterior interosseous island forearm flap

The skin of the dorsal aspect of the forearm is supplied by several cutaneous branches of the posterior interosseous artery. This vascular anatomy permits the surgeon to obtain an island flap of the dorsal forearm based on the distal anastomosis between the two interosseous arteries at the distal part of the interosseous space. This flap can reliably be transferred to different skin defects of the hand such as those created by correction of an adduction contracture of the first web space, or on the back or front of the wrist level. Its principal advantages are that it is a thin flap with excellent circulation and that it is possible to close the donor area primarily provided the island flap is not wider than 3 to 4 cm. The procedure has been employed in 25 patients with satisfactory results.