Free Flaps for Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects Following Crushing Injury to Fingers

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The crushing injury is one of the most severe type injuries in the finger. For the reconstruction of fingers with crushed and devitalized tissue, various surgical methods have been attempted to cover the soft tissue defects. We performed free flaps for finger reconstruction and investigated the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2010 and July 2011, we retrospectively reviewed 14 patients who had soft tissue defects of fingers after severe crushing injuries. There were 8 pulp losses, 4 dorsal skin losses with bony exposure, 1 nail complex loss, and 1 total loss of distal phalanx. In all cases, soft tissue defects in fingers were reconstructed with a free flap. RESULTS: All flaps survived successfully. We could reserve the functional length without additional necrosis and amputation. Reconstructed fingers were returned to normal activity in a short time and the atrophy or deformity was not observed. CONCLUSION: Free flap transfer for the reconstruction of the finger defect after crushing injury is useful for the functional recovery and cosmesis.