Aim: To report our results of homodigital island flap reconstruction in the distal phalanx finger tip injuries.
Patients and Method: Forty-one homodigital island flaps of 30 male patients with defective injuries in the level of distal phalanx who were presented emergency department of Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine and reconstructed were evaluated retrospectively. Each patient was evaluated in terms of demographic data, flap survival rates, sensory return, the emergence of cold intolerance, range of movement values, return to work period and complications.
Results: Full primary flap survival was observed except for two partial flap necrosis and two superficial epidermolysis. After a six-month follow-up, mean static two-point discrimination value was found to be 10.2 mm (range: 8-12.1 mm) in 41 fingers treated with flap. The mean range of movement angles were determined as 107.40º (range, 90-110º) at proximal interphalangeal joint and 61.95º (range, 0-90º) at distal interphalangeal joint. Cold intolerance was not observed in any patient. The mean time of return to full-time professional activity was 7.2 weeks (range, 6-10 weeks). As for complications, 4 patients developed nail deformity and and 3 patients had a flexion contracture. No donor site complication was observed.
Conclusion: Because of easy implementation in a single session and high patient satisfaction with low donor site complications, homodigital island flap method is an effective surgical option in the treatment of fingertip defects.
Key words: Distal injuries, homodigital flaps, island flaps, multiple finger defects
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