• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Free flaps from the great toe are an established method for reconstruction of absent or partially amputated thumbs. However, options differ as to which technique represents the ideal solution for each level of amputation. Various methods of distal thumb reconstruction have been proposed. We prefer to transplant the entire great toe nail complex with the almost all of the pulp rather than a portion of the nail. This paper reflects our experience in using the great toe mini wrap-around flap for distal thumb reconstruction. Materials and Methods: In the period from October of 2005 to July of 2007, 9 patients were treated for traumatic thumb defects localized at the distal phalanx of the thumb. The patients included seven men and two women. The mean age was 44 years (range, 21~60) and the dominant right hand was involved in seven of nine patients. Results: The transferred flaps have survived completely in all cases. The mean range of motion in the interphalangeal joints was 51o, with 73% of the normal uninjured opposite hands. The two-point discrimination was 10.5 mm (range, 5~13 mm). In Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, the sensibility was 4.31 in 4 cases, 3.61 in 3 cases and 2.83 in 2 cases. The pinch power was 64% (range, 55~95%) of the opposite hand. All patients were satisfied with the appearance of the reconstructed thumb and felt comfortable at final follow-up. Conclusion: We have successfully reconstructed 9 cases of traumatic distal thumb defects using the mini wrap-around free flap. The mini wrap-around free flap in great toe is an excellent alternative method for distal thumb reconstruction in selected patients.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.62-66
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Despite the free tissue transfer using microsurgical technique being the current trend of soft tissue reconstruction of the hand, the pedicled groin flap has the advantage to provide coverage for the mangled hand without necessitating the use of a damaged arterial system and also providing the benefit of saving the arterial system for later free tissue transfer. This report presents the author's experience using pedicled groin flap in four cases of mangled hands with massive bone and soft tissue defects requiring later thumb reconstruction with the free wrap around flap. Materials and methods: The patients' age ranged from 30 to 51 years; three patients were male and one was female. The causes of mangled hand included two machinery crush injuries, one laboratory explosion and one motor vehicle accident. While evaluating the post-operative results, factors like flap survival, complications, stability in opposition, pinch power and 2 point discrimination were taken into account. Results: All massive soft tissue defects of the hands were completely covered with pedicled groin flap successfully. The reconstructed thumb using free wrap around flap did not have any limitation in opposition. There was no occurrence of post-operative infection and all the flaps survived completely. The average pinch power was 70% of the contralateral intact thumb and average 2 point discrimination was 10 mm. Conclusion: The pedicled groin flap for the reconstruction of the massive soft tissue defects of the hand with subsequent reconstruction of the thumb with a wrap around flap is a very useful procedure. The combined use of pedicled groin flap and wrap around flap allows adequate coverage of sizable soft tissue defects and functional thumb opposition in cases of reconstruction of the mangled hands.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1999.11a
• /
• pp.204-205
• /
• 1999

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.81-89
• /
• 1994

Firstly the wrap-around free flap from the great toe was transferred successfully by Morrison and O'Brien in 1980 for reconstruction in chronic case of amputated thumb distal to the MP joint. Since then, significant bone peg resorption and grafted bone fracture have been reported in most of cases after operation. We have performed thumb reconstructions within 2 weeks after injury in 11 cases which included acute crushing injuries or failed replantation of thumb at Guro Hospital from September, 1983 to October, 1993. The results obtained from this study are as follows: 1. There were 8 males and 3 females and the mean age was 28.8 years old ranged from 3 years old to 50 years old. 2. The most common injury mechanism was machinary injury in 10 of 11 cases. 3. We have performed thumb reconstructions by using wrap-around free flap from the great toe without bone graft in 6 cases and with bone graft in 5 cases within 2 weeks after injury. 4. During 6 years and 1 month mean follow-up period, there were bone resorptions in 3, grafted bone fracture in 1, infections in 2 and soft tissue necrosis in 3 cases. 5. We obtained satisfactable results in respect of function and cosmesis and urged to use this flap for reconstruction in acute thumb injury.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.72-80
• /
• 1994

There are several methods to reconstruct an amputated or lost thumb such as toe to thumb transfer, pollicization and other variety of free flaps. In 1980, Morrison and O'Brien advocated reconstruction of the thumb with a free wrap-around flap from the big toe to recreate a stable, sensate and functional digit, including the nail. From March, 1982 to December, 1992, thirty cases of thumb reconstructions were performed using the wrap-around procedure at Korea University Hospital. 1. 29 cases of total 30 cases were successful and can be obtained the excellent results in functional and cosmetic aspect. 2. In postoperative complications, one case is graft failure, six cases in partial skin necrosis, one case in malunion, 15 cases in resorption of grafted bone piece were come out. 3. Even if the 1st metacarpal neck amputation is occurred, thumb reconstruction with a free neurovascular wrap-around flap was also possible, however, the limitation of the mobility of the reconstructed thumb and resorption of grafted bone piece were come out. We concluded that cosmesis and fuctional results were quite satisfactory despite of some complications. The thumb reconstruction with a wrap around free flap from the big toe in thumb amputated patients is the excellent method in the cosmetic and functional aspect and can be considered as the most useful method because of less morbidity to the donor site and the operator should be trained to get the meticulous microsurgical technique and to detect the complications.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1995.11a
• /
• pp.68.1-68.1
• /
• 1995

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 1997

The methods of clinical applications of the foot as a free-flap donor site includes microvascular toe-to-finger transfer, free neurovascular flap transfer, first web space flap transfer, and osteocutaneous free flap transfer. We have evaluated the results of treatment for 35 patients to be undergone a microvascular reconstructive procedure with the foot as a donor site from January 1982 to June 1996. The performed operations were 16 cases of thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure, 3 cases of tenocutaneous flap transfer, 10 cases of dorsalis pedis flap transfer, 2 cases of first web space free flap and 4 cases of toe-to-finger transfer. The follow up study was 69 months in average. Regarding to the various donor sites, morbidity was divided into five different categories: Cosmesis, Functional loss, Sensory loss, Wound complication, and Pain. According to the results of examination(35 patients), the results was excellent(25), good(9), fair(1), and poor(0). Among the categories, morbidity was higher at cosmesis. The patients under 50 years were better outcome. Among the operative methods from the foot as a donor site, thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure showed poorest outcomes. So, We conclude that the foot as a free flap donor site is a good source for the microvascular reconstructive surgery. But, Preoperative donor site evaluation, adequate operative technique and post operative management are essential to decrease the morbidity of donor site.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.135-145
• /
• 1998

In 1980 Morrison and O'Brien reported their experiences about the reconstruction of amputated thumb using wrap-around neurovascular free flap from the great toe with a nonvascularized iliac bone graft. From then it has been considered to be a good reconstructive procedure for the amputated thumb, but it's indication has been limited distal to the metacarpophalangeal(MP) joint. We have performed 37 cases of wrap-around free flap from the great toe for the reconstruction of thumb amputated at distal or proximal to the MP joint and investigated their functional results according to the level of amputation. Level of amputation was distal to the MP joint in 25 cases and proximal to it in 12 cases. Pinching and grasping power, two point discrimination and the amount of opposition to the other fingers were compared to the uninjured hand. Pinching and grasping power were not significantly different according to the level of amputation but the amount of two point discrimination was significantly high in the cases amputated proximal to the MP joint. The opposition of reconstructed thumb to the other fingers was completely possible in all cases amputated distal to the MP joint. In 12 cases amputated proximal to the MP joint of the thumb, opposition was completely possible in 6 cases in which the iliac bone block was fixated in the position of $30^{\circ}$ flexion and $45^{\circ}$ internal rotation but in 6 cases in the fixation of $30^{\circ}$ flexion and $30^{\circ}$ internal rotation, the opposition of reconstructed thumb to the ring and little fingers were impossible in 5 cases and only to the little finger in 1 case. In this study, we concluded that even if amputation proximal to the MP joint, it is no more contraindication of the wrap-around free flap procedure for thumb reconstruction, however in these cases we recommend iliac bone block fixation in the position of $30^{\circ}$ flexion and $45^{\circ}$ infernal rotation for the better functional outcome.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.120-126
• /
• 2000

Microsurgical reconstruction of the hand demands recovery of the sensation of the reconstructed free flap as well as microsurgeon's intelligence, technique and experience. Even with adequate soft tissue coverage and skeletal mobility, an insensate hand is prone to further injury and is unlikely to be useful to the patients. Authors have performed 8 cases of neurosensory free flaps in the hand, 4 cases of wrap around, 3 dorsalis pedis and 1 lateral arm flap, from July 1992 through June 1999 and followed up average 4 years and 4 months. Wrap around flap was performed for reconstruction of 4 cases of thumb, repairing deep peroneal nerve and superficial radial nerve by epineurial neurorrhaphy, and followed up for average 3 years and 10 months and calculated 9mm in the static 2 point discrimination test. Dorsalis pedis flap were 3 cases for reconstruction of the ray amputation, extensor tendon exposure and wrist exposure. Deep peroneal nerve and branch of the ulnar nerve was repaired by epineurial neurorrhaphy calculating 6mm and superficial peroneal nerve and superficial radial nerve averaging 18mm in the static 2 point discrimination test for follow up average 2 years and 9 months. Lateral arm flap was 1 case for reconstruction of the ray amputation in the hand repairing posterior cutaneous nerve to the arm to the superficial radial nerve calculating 20mm for follow up 6 years and 8 months.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.764-768
• /
• 2022

The wrap-around flap (WAF) has become a popular approach to thumb reconstruction because the results are functionally and cosmetically excellent. By modifying to a partial toenail transfer, the WAF can also be used for finger reconstruction. However, performing cosmetically superior finger reconstruction is a significant challenge because it is difficult to reconstruct the natural nailfold by partial nail transplantation, although partial nail transplantation is required to reconstruct a narrow fingernail. One side of the reconstructed lateral nailfold tends to be a missing nail margin, and one side of the proximal nailfold angle tends to be retracted. Based on the rationale that loss of the lateral nailfold volume due to the postoperative tension of the volar flap would result in a missing nail margin, the volume of the lateral nailfold was maintained with a single thread that was passed from the nail to the volar flap. Additionally, half of the proximal nailfold from the nail plate was elevated to advance it forward. The results indicated that a cosmetically natural nailfold was achieved with the WAF approach to finger reconstruction. These easy and simple techniques enable reconstruction of a cosmetically natural nailfold using WAF for finger reconstruction.