Vascularized free flap transfer in the upper limb

Free tissue transfer is quite an important and attractive procedure for reconstruction of an injured limb, especially an upper limb. A simple skin flap can be transferred to close an open wound of the limb, but a sensory flap or a special flap such as a nail-skin, tendon-skin, or muscle-skin flap is a much better donor for reconstructing the function of the upper limb. The muscle or muscle-skin transfer procedure should be highly valued as a means of restoration of motor function in those patients in whom all other measures have totally failed in the past. Sensory flap transfer from the foot is also highly valued as a method for reconstructing sensory and cosmetic problems of the hand and fingers.