Objective To summarize the effectiveness of radial dorsal fasciocutaneous flap of thumb for repairing severe nail bed defects. Methods Between May 2009 and January 2012, 16 patients with severe nail bed defect were treated with radial dorsal fasciocutaneous flap of the thumb. There were 10 males and 6 females, aged 16-54 years (mean, 36 years). The causes of injury included crush injury in 10 cases, chainsaw injury in 4 cases, and scald in 2 cases; injured fingers were thumb in 3 cases, index finger in 4 cases, middle finger in 5 cases, ring finger in 3 cases, and little finger in 1 case. The time between injury and operation was 2 hours to 8 days (mean, 19.3 hours). Of 16 patients, 9 complicated by distal phalanx fracture. The area of defect ranged from 0.9 cm × 0.6 cm to 2.3 cm × 2.1 cm. According to ZHOU Qingwen’s grading system for nail bed defects, 6 cases were rated as degree III and 10 cases as degree IV. The area of flap ranged from 1.0 cm × 0.6 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.2 cm. Retrograde transposition was performed to repair the thumb defect, and pedicled transposition to repair the 2nd-5th fingers defects. The donor sites were directly sutured or were repaired with skin graft. Results All flaps and skin grafts survived, and wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 8 months). The color, texture, and contour of the flaps were good. According to total active motion standard, the finger function was assessed as excellent in 10 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 87.5%. Conclusion Radial dorsal fasciocutaneous flap of thumb is a reliable flap with easy dissection and less trauma in repair of severe nail bed defects.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of temporary ectopic implantation of amputated fingers and dorsalis pedis flaps for thumb reconstruction and skin defect repair of the hand. Methods Between February 2006 and February 2012, 9 patients with thumb amputation having no replanted condition were treated. There were 7 males and 2 females with an average age of 35 years (range, 20-45 years). The injury causes included explosive injury in 1 case, puncher injury in 1 case, stiring machine injury in 1 case, gear injury in 3 cases, and heavy pound injury in 3 cases. At 2-5 hours after injury, one-stage temporary ectopic implantation of amputated finger to foot was performed. After debridement, thumb defect was rated as degree III in 1 case, as degree IV in 3 cases, and as degree V in 5 cases. When amputated fingers survived completely after 1-4 months, the amputated finger was replanted to its anatomic position, skin defect was repaired with dorsalis pedis flap. The area of skin defect ranged from 5 cm × 4 cm to 7 cm × 6 cm. The area of flaps ranged from 6 cm × 5 cm to 8 cm × 7 cm. The donor site was repaired by the skin grafting. Results Arterial crisis occurred in 1 case after 1 day of one-stage operation, and was cured after vascular exploration, and the amputated fingers survived in the others. The reconstructed thumbs and flaps survived after two-stage operation, and the skin graft at donor site survived. The patients were followed up 1-4 years (mean, 2.8 years). The reconstructed thumbs had good appearance and satisfactory opposition and finger-to-finger functions. According to the standard functional evaluation issued by Hand Surgery Association of Chinese Medical Association, the scores of survival fingers were 73-91 (mean, 84); the results were excellent in 7 cases and good in 2 cases with an excellent and good rate of 100%. Conclusion Temporary ectopic implantation of amputated finger to foot combined with dorsalis pedis flap can be used to reconstruct thumb and repair skin defect of the hand.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Kirschner wire combined with silk tension band in the treatment of ulnar collateral ligament avulsion fracture of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint. Methods Between September 2008 and October 2011, 14 patients with ulnar collateral ligament avulsion fracture of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint were treated using a combination of Kirschner wire and silk tension band. There were 8 males and 6 females, aged 23-55 years (mean, 40.8 years). The causes of injury were machinery twist injury in 5 cases, manual twist injury in 4 cases, falling in 4 cases, sports injury in 1 case. The time from injury to operation was 2 hours-14 days. All the patients presented pain over the ulnar aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, limitation of motion, and joint instability with pinch and grip. The lateral stress testing of the metacarpophalangeal joint was positive. Function training was given at 2 weeks after operation. Results All incisions healed by first intention. The lateral stress testing of the metacarpophalangeal joint was negative. All the patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 13.1 months). The X-ray films showed good fracture reduction and healing with an average time of 7 weeks (range, 4-10 weeks). At last follow-up, the thumbs had stable flexion and extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint, normal opposition function and grip and pinch strengths. According to Saetta et al. criteria for functional assessment, the results were excellent in 11 cases and good in 3 cases; the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion It is an easy and simple method to treat ulnar collateral ligament avulsion fracture of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint using Kirschner wire combined with silk tension band, which can meet the good finger function.
Objective To evaluate the results of thumb opposition function by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons. Methods Between March 2006 and August 2009, 35 patients with dysfunction of thumb opposition were treated and the thumb opposition function was reconstruced by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons. There were 25 males and 10 females with an average age of 33.5 years (range, 20-53 years); 20 had median nerve injury in the wrist and 15 had median nerve injury with ulnar nerve injury. The causes were sharp instrument injury in 24 cases, blunt injury in 9 cases, and hot crush injury in 2 cases. Six cases complicated by shaft fractures of radius and ulna. All the patients underwent an operation of nerve repair at 1 to 3 hours after injury (mean, 2 hours). The time from injury to reconstructing operation was 6-14 months (mean, 7.5 months). Two cases was able to abduct thumb sl ightly, the others had no functions of thumb abduct and thumb opposition. Results All the wounds gained the primary healing. The patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14 months). The wrist joint angle and thumb dorsal extension were satisfactory. Thumb abduct and thumb opposition function returned to normal in 20 patients with simple median nerve injury; in 15 patients with median nerve injury and ulnar nerve injury, thumb abduct and thumb opposition function returned to normal in 15 and 13, respectively. According to ZHAO Shuqiang’s standard, the results of thumb opposition function were normal in all patients at 12 months after operation. Conclusion It is a convenient and efficient procedure to reconstruct thumb opposition function by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons.
Objective To study the improved index finger dorsal island flap for primary repair of thumb tip injury. Methods Between January 2009 and February 2010, 23 patients with thumb tip injury were treated. There were 17 males and 6 females, aged 21-47 years (mean, 27.5 years). The causes of injury were mechanical injury in 18 cases and heavy crushing injury in 5 cases. The time from injury to operation was 2.5-5.0 hours (mean, 3.5 hours). The defect locations included ulnar palmar defect in 5 cases, dorsal foot defect in 6 cases, radial palmar defect in 8 cases, and radial dorsal defect in 4 cases. All patients complicated by exposure of the thumb distal phalanx. The wound area varied from 2.1 cm × 1.8 cm to 2.8 cm × 2.5 cm. According to distal soft tissue defect of thumb, a modified index finger dorsal island flap was designed, key point of which was moved forward, and defects were repaired with the flaps. The size of flap was 2.3 cm × 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm × 2.7 cm. The donor sites were repaired with skin graft. Results All the flaps and grafts survived after operation and the wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-12 months with an average of 6.4 months. The appearance and texture of the flaps were excellent. At last follow-up, the sensation of the flaps recovered to S3+ in 18 cases, to S3 in 2 cases, and to S2 in 3 cases. The two-point discrimination was 3-4 mm. Thumb opposition function was normal without contracture at the first web space. The skin graft at the donor site survived completely, and the metacarpophalangeal joint at donor site had the flexion and extension function. Conclusion Using a modified index finger dorsal island flap for primary repair thumb tip injury is a simple operation, which has good blood supply and high survival rate. When the pedicle flap rotation point is moved forward 10 mm or more, it can meet the needs of repairing thumb tip defect.