It is difficult to repair the pulp defect of finger with good function. Here reported two cases of pulp defect of the thumb which were repaired with free palmris brevis musculo-cutaneous flap. The flap was designed as the following: taken the line crossing the pisiform and metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the little finger as the longitudinal axis of the flap. The proximal end of the flap was at the level of pisiform and the distal end was the distal transverse palmar crease. The radial border was the radial side of the palmris brevis and ulnar border was the ulnar edge of the palm. The flap should not be larger than 6.5 cm x 2.5 cm. The flap was dissected with proper ulnar vessels and the accompanying arterial branch and superficial branch of the ulnar nerve. The flap was transferred to repair the pulp defect of the thumb. The vessels were anastomosed with the radial artery and cephalic vein at the snuffbox. The nerves were sutured to the digital nerve. Three months after operation, the defect was healed and the sensation of pulp was recovered. The donor area was painless and without sensation disturbance. The motion of the little finger was normal. The function of the thumb was restored. It was concluded that the palmaris brevis musculocutaneous flap is one of the best donor region to repair pulp defect of thumb.
Objective To evaluate a new reconstruction method for grades Ⅴ and Ⅵ defect with flap by skin soft tissue expansion technique. Methods From May 1998to September 2003, 8 cases of serious thumb defect were treated, including 6 males and 2 females, aging 18-27 years. The defect was caused by crush injury ofmachine in 6 cases and hot crush injury in 2 cases( 5 cases of grade Ⅴ and 3 cases of grade Ⅵ). The expander was placed under the tenor skin and softtissue.And then normal saline was infused to expand the skin and soft tissue graduallytill it was available for thumb reconstruction. Iliac autograft was fixed to residual thumb stump and covered with flap produce by expanded skin and soft-tissue.Postoperative rehabilitation was carried out. Results Allreconstructed thumbs were alive. After3-24 months follow-up, all reconstructed thumbs were with good sensation, appearance and durable. Twopoint discrimination was less than 5 mm. The functions of opposition, extend, abduction and endoduction were better in grade Ⅴ thumb defect than in grade Ⅵ thumb defect. Bone union was achieved within 3 to 4 months. Conclusion It is a convenient-to-operate and reliablemethod for thumb reconstruction. It is an alternative new reconstruction methodfor grades Ⅴ and Ⅵ thumb defect.
Fiftyone thumbs with complete or partial loss of the distal segment in 50 patients has been reconstructed with transplantation of great or second toe by microsurgical technique from 1985 to 1993. All cases were survived and regained favourable functions. Ninteen cases had been followup after operation, with an average of 51 months. In the group Ⅱ° of thumb loss, the overall functional impairment inproved from 11% to 1.7%, and in the remaining cases, from 5% to 0%. Sensation examination found S+3 in 42%, S4 in 37% and the two point discrimination between 4mm to 10mm. The merits of reconstruction of the distal thumb segment was stated and emphasized. The choice of operative procedures, the advantagesof emergency reconstruction, the selection emphasized of anastomosis site of blood vessels and the complications and sequelae of the donor foot were discussed in detaill.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnosis and treatment of thumb polydactyly with symphalangism in children.MethodsSeven cases of thumb polydactyly with symphalangism were treated between January 2013 and May 2017. There were 5 males and 2 females, aged from 10 months to 11 years, with an average age of 3.1 years. The thumb-polydactyly was diagnosed with MRI and it was seen that the base of radial multi-finger and the proximal phalangeal joint were connected by cartilage. All patients were treated with resection, lateral collateral ligament reconstruction, bone osteotomy and internal fixation.ResultsThe operation was successfully completed, and there was no early complications such as infection and flap necrosis. All patients were followed up 6-23 months (mean, 14.1 months). At last follow-up, there was no deformity finger, scar contracture, and other complications. The extension of the interphalangeal joint was no limited, and the flexion range of the interphalangeal joint was 20-75° (mean, 56.7°). The appearance and function of the thumb was rated as excellent in 3 cases and good in 4 cases by Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH) scoring, with the excellent and good rate of 100%.ConclusionThe thumb polydactyly with symphalangism in children can be combined with clinical manifestations, X-ray film, and MRI examination to diagnose, and can obtain satisfactory results through the reconstruction of lateral collateral ligament, bone osteotomy, and internal fixation.
OBJECTIVE In order to inquire the methods of thumb reconstruction by transferring the index finger with incomplete conditions of nerve or blood vessels. METHODS From April 1987 to October 1997, 6 cases were treated by 3 kinds of operative methods according to the damage type of thumb and complications injures of the rest of hand: 1. transferring the index finger with pedicle without proximal phalanx, 2. transferring the index finger with palmar nerve and blood vessels, and dorsal skin pedicle, 3. transferring the index finger with compound pedicle. RESULTS All 6 cases of thumb reconstruction were successful. Followed up 6 months to 2 years, the pinching and gribing functions in 6 cases were completely recovered, and the sensation were partly recovered. CONCLUSION The operative method of thumb reconstruction had following advantages: Simple operation, high survival rate and certain function recovery. It can enlarge the indications of thumb reconstruction.
ObjectiveTo explore a new improved technique and its effectiveness to repair dorsal thumb composite tissue defects including interphalangeal joint by transplantation of modified hallux toe-nail composite tissue flap. MethodsThe hallux toe-nail composite tissue flap carrying distal half hallux proximal phalanx, extensor hallucis longus, and interphalangeal joint capsule were designed and applied to repair the dorsal skin, nails, and interphalangeal joint defect of thumb in 14 cases between January 2007 and June 2013. They were all males, aged from 19 to 52 years (mean, 30 years). The time from injury to hospital was 0.5-2.0 hours (mean, 1.2 hours). The area of the thumb nail and dorsal skin defects ranged from 2.5 cm×1.5 cm to 5.0 cm×2.5 cm. The dorsal interphalangeal joint had different degrees of bone defect, with residual bone and joint capsule at the palm side. The length of bone defect ranged from 2.5 to 4.0 cm (mean, 3.4 cm). The hallux nail flap size ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 6.0 cm×3.0 cm. The donor sites were repaired by skin grafting in 5 cases, and retrograde second dorsal metatarsal artery island flap in 9 cases. ResultsAfter operation, arterial crisis occurred in 1 case and the flap survived after relieving pressure; the other flaps survived, and wounds healed by first intention. Liquefaction necrosis of the skin grafting at donor site occurred in 3 cases, and the other skin grafting and all retrograde second dorsal metatarsal artery island flaps survived. The follow-up ranged from 9 months to 3 years and 6 months (mean, 23 months). The secondary plastic operation was performed in 4 cases at 6 months after operation because of slightly bulky composite tissue flaps. The other composite tissue flaps had good appearance, color, and texture. The growth of the nail was good in 12 cases, and slightly thickened in 2 cases. At last follow-up, X-ray examination showed that bone graft and proximal phalanx of the thumb had good bone healing in 12 cases. Good bone healing was obtained at the donor site. According to the Hand Surgical Branch of Chinese Medical Association standard for thumb and finger reconstruction function, the results were excellent in 12 cases and good in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. No pain at donor site was observed, with normal gait. ConclusionTransplantation of modified hallux toe-nail composite tissue flap to repair dorsal thumb composite tissue defects including interphalangeal joint can effectively improve the appearance and function of the impaired thumb.
Objective To explore the effect of the first dorsal metacarpal artery-based pedicle dictyo-pattern sublobe flaps in repairing irregular wounds on thumbs and index fingers. Methods From December 2006 to March 2009, 15 patients with irregular wounds on thumbs and index fingers were treated, including 11 males and 4 femals, with an average age of 31 years (range, 18-48 years). Of them, 6 cases of hyperplastic scar of postburn had a 2-25 years course of disease (7.5 years onaverage) and 9 cases of machine injury had a 14-30 days course of disease (20 days on average). In 8 thumb wounds on palmaris, there were 3 cases of rhomboid wounds, 1 case of C-shape wound, and 4 cases of irregular wounds; the area of wounds ranged from 4.5 cm × 3.0 cm to 5.5 cm × 4.5 cm and wounds were treated by the first dorsal metacarpal artery-based proximate pedicle dictyo-pattern sublobe flaps (5 cm × 3 cm to 6 cm × 5 cm). In 7 index fingers wounds on dorsi-fingers, there were 3 cases of 2-wounds, 4 cases of irregular wounds; the area of wounds ranged from 1.0 cm × 0.5 cm to 2.2 cm × 2.0 cm and wounds were treated by the first dorsal metacarpal artery-based distal pedicle dictyo-pattern sublobe flaps (1.2 cm × 0.5 cm to 3.0 cm × 2.2 cm). The donor sites were covered with skin grafts or sutured directly. Results All of the flaps survived completely, the wound of recipient site healed at stage I. The free skin graft on donor site survived completely, the wound of donor site healed at stage I. All cases were followed up for 6-12 months (9 months on average). There was good appearance of flaps. The two point discrimination was 5-7 mm for the proximate pedicle flaps and 9-10 mm for the distal pedicle flaps. The thumbs had digital opposition, opposition function, the index fingers had no dysfunction. According to Hand Surgery Association Society of Chinese Medical Association Society standard for the part function evaluation trial-use of upper l imb, the results of the total active movement were excellent in 14 cases, and good in 1 case. The l ine-scar was existed at donor site of the case of direct suture, the function of thumb web had no dysfunction. Conclusion The first dorsal metacarpal artery-based pedicle dictyo-pattern sublobe flaps can repair the irregular wounds on thumbs and index fingers. It has rel iable blood supply and simple operation.
Objective To introduce the free multiple flaps of lowerextremity based on the anterior tibital vascular pedicle for primary repair of the complex burned hand deformities.Methods From September 2000 to February 2003, the lateral leg flap, dosalis pedis flap and trimmed first toe based on the anterior tibial vascular pedicle were utilized to reconstruct the thumb and repair the first web, thenar, wrist or palmar scar contracture simultaneously in 6 patients. The flap size of lateral leg and dosalis pedis ranged from 4 cm×10 cm to 7 cm×10 cm and from 5 cm×10 cm to 9 cm×12 cm, respectively.Resutls Six cases were treated and followed up for 6 weeks to 1 year. The transplanted flaps survived with satisfactory recovery in function and appearance of theburned hand. The function of donor lower extremity was not damaged. Conclusion The procedure of the free multiple flaps of lower extremity based on the anterior tibial vascular pedicle is reliable and effective for primaryrepair of burned hand.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of double osteotomy and lengthening of proximal phalanx and metacarpal with Ilizarov technique in treatment of thumb defect. MethodsBetween February 2017 and June 2019, 6 patients with traumatic thumb defects were treated with double osteotomy and lengthening of proximal phalanx and metacarpal by Ilizarov technique. There were 5 males and 1 female. The age ranged from 28 to 57 years, with an average of 41.5 years. There were 3 cases on the left side and 3 cases on the right side. All patients were admitted to the hospital in emergency department after injury, and the stump of the thumb was trimmed and sutured. The osteotomy plane was the distal part of the proximal phalanx in 4 cases and the interphalangeal joint in 2 cases. The interval between injury and osteotomy was 20-245 days (median, 34.5 days). After minimally invasive osteotomy and placement of a semi-circular external fixator, the lengthening began on the 5th day. The proximal phalanx and metacarpal were lengthened by 0.5 mm every day, once every 12 hours. The thumb of the affected side was distracted to the middle of the distal phalanx of the healthy thumb, and the fixator was removed after the bone healed. ResultsThe distraction time was 14-23 days, with an average of 18.8 days. The osteotomies were healed with healing time of 91-147 days (mean, 120.2 days). The total distraction length of the proximal phalanx and metacarpal was 1.40-2.25 cm, with an average of 1.86 cm; healing index was 51.0-72.2 days/cm, with an average of 64.9 days/cm. All patients were followed up 5-12 months (mean, 8.2 months). At last follow-up, the two-point discrimination was 5.3-8.5 mm with an average of 6.98 mm. According to the evaluation standard of the upper limb part of the Chinese Medical Association, the score was 10-14, with an average of 12.5. Among them, 4 cases were excellent and 2 cases were good, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. All patients were satisfied with the function and appearance of thumb after operation. The Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick-DASH) score was 2.3-9.1, with an average of 6.1. ConclusionThe double osteotomy and lengthening of proximal phalanx and metacarpal with Ilizarov technique is an effective method for the treatment of thumb defects.
Objective To approach a new procedure of microsurgery to repair thumb fingertip amputation with forward homodigital ulnaris artery flap coverage for bone and nail bed graft. Methods From March 2005 to October 2007, 6 cases of amputated thumb fingertip (6 fingers) were treated, including 4 males and 2 females and aging 23-63 years. Six patients’ (3 crush injuries, 2 cut injuries and 1 other injury) amputated level was at nail root (2 cases), mid-nail (3 cases), and the distalone third of nai bed (1 case). The time from injury to surgery was 3-10 hours, they were treated with forward homodigital ulnaris artery flap coverage for bone and nail bed graft. The flaps size ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.4 cm to 2.0 cm × 1.4 cm. Results All flaps survived. Wound healed in one-stage in 5 cases, and healed in second stage in 1 case because of swell ing. All skin grafting at donor site survived in one-stage. All patients were followed up for 6-8 months. The appearance of flaps were good, and the two-point discrimination was 5-6 mm. Bone graft were healed, the heal ing time was 4-5 weeks. All finger nails were smooth and flat without pain. Conclusion When there was no indication of replantation in thumb fingertip amputation, establ ishing the functional and esthetic construction can be retained with forward homodigital ulnaris artery flap coverage for bone and nail bed graf