Segmentle bridging reconstruction in severed segmental defect of finger by the free second toe hand-joint composite tissue combined with the flap of great toe / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore a surgical technique and treatment outcomes of the segmentle bridging reconstruction for severed fingers with single segmentle defect by using the free second toe bone-joint composite tissue combined with the great toe flap.Methods:From June 2010 to September 2017, 5 patients suffered from severed segmental defect of finger were treated. According to the defects of bone-joints, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and other soft tissues, the reconstruction surgery was designed to create a Flow-through bridging composite flap pedicled with the first dorsal metatarsal artery or the plantar artery. The blood vessles carried by the pedicle were anastomosed with the vessels in the finger to restore the blood supply to the distal finger while having the defected finger segment reconstructed. A Flow-through bridging composite flap was created by taking the second toe bone-joint composite tissue combined with a C-shaped or half-moon shaped flap from the fibular side of the great toe. Skin graft, retrograde lateral tarsal flap or free perforator flaps were used in 3 cases to repair the donor sites of the great and second toes. Iliac strip was implanted in 2 cases for toe salvage. Kirschner wires were removed 4-6 weeks after surgery followed by functional exercise.Results:All of the 5 reconstructed distal segments of the fingers survived with the healing of fractures in 8-12 week after surgery. The postoperative follow-up lasted 6-36 months and all the patients had the follow-ups at the outpatient clinic. It was found that the maximum flexion of the reconstructed interphalangel joint was 60 degrees together with dorsiflezion. According to the evaluation standard of the reconstructed function for thumb and finger issued by the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association, 3 fingers were in excellent and 2 in good. No obviouse affect on walking was found in all the patients.Conclusion:The free second toe joint composite tissue together with the great toe flap can be used to bridge the single segmental defect of a finger. It restores the blood supply to as well as the appearance of the distal finger, helps the recovery of the reconstructed distal finger. It is an ideal technique in the treatment of a severed distal segment of the finger.