Arch Reconstr Microsurg.  2015 Nov;24(2):50-55. 10.15596/ARMS.2015.24.2.50.

Digital Artery Perforator Flaps

• Kim KS

• KMID: 2130573
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15596/ARMS.2015.24.2.50

Abstract

In the hand, few vessels can be classified as 'perforators'. Even today, the debate continues on whether or not branches of the digital artery should be considered as perforators. However, 'perforator' and 'perforator flaps' have become extremely popular within the microsurgery literature, and as such, the terminology has found widespread adoption across the hand surgery field. The finger is the most important sensory organ for tactile stimulation. The glabrous skin can be distinguished between the fingertip and the proximal tissue, with the fingertip having a higher functional and, therefore, reconstructive priority. Thus, sacrifice of the proximal glabrous skin can be justified in the reconstruction of fingertip defects. In this paper, the author reviews two flaps, 'lateral digital artery perforator flap' and 'volar digital artery perforator flap', both of which uses short branches of the digital artery as a vascular pedicle and are useful in fingertip construction.

Keyword

Perforator flap; Island flap; Finger; Hand; Reconstructive surgical procedure

MeSH Terms

Arteries*
Fingers
Hand
Microsurgery
Perforator Flap*
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
Skin