Clinical Observation of the Neurovascular Island Pedicle Flap in the Hand

Kim, Sang Soo; Lee, Dong Sun; Moon, Eung Ju

Abstract

The skin defects or sensory impairment of the fingers, especially at the critical area for prehension(tips of thumb, index and middle fingers) should be reconstructed for the better function of hand. In our department, we performed neurovascular island pedicle flap transfer for the purpose of reconstruction of sensibility and skin defect simultaneousely to the critical area. 1. Since 1978, we had performed neurovascular island pedicle flap transfer in 14cases, among which 9 cases were followed for more than one year. 2. The operation was performed for the reconstruction of thumb in 8 cases, and index in 4 cases. The most common cause of injury was crushing by machine(8 cases). 3. The island flap was transferred from middle finger(9 cases) and from ring finger(4 cases). 4. Recovery of the protective sensation at the recipient sites was good or fair after one year, but reorientation and two point discrimination were poor. 5. Cold intolerance was developed in 3 cases and callosity was formed in 2 cases. 6. In all cases, the transferred flaps were good in circulation status and durability. 7. It is considered that the neurovascular island pedicle flap is an accepted method of restoring skin coverage as well as sensation to a localized tactile area in the hand.