OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of repairing soft tissue defect after hand wound using reverse island skin flap of upper carpal cutaneous branches of ulnar artery.

METHODSFrom June 2010 to November 2016, 12 patients with hand soft tissue defects were repaired by reverse island skin flap of upper carpal cutaneous branches of ulnar artery, including 9 males and 3 females with an average age of (35.2±9.4) years old ranging from 22 to 58 years. The defect area varied from 7.0 cm×3.0 cm to 12.0 cm×7.0 cm. Time interval from injury to operation ranged from 3 to 15 days with an average of (8.4±2.6) days. The flap was designed beforehand according to the size of the defect, sharply dissected the aponeurotic fascia from the proximal to the distal, abscised the communicating branch between the flap and the ulnar artery at the wrist epithelial branch, repairing the defect of flap with method of metastasis retrograde. The sensation, shape of the flap and hand function were observed, and the upper extremity function was evaluated according to the standard of hand surgery branch from Chinese Medical Association to assessment of functional recovery.

RESULTSThe flaps in 10 patients obtained primary healing, the healed time was 14 to 18 days with an average of(15.0±1.5) days. Two patients occurred distal flap necrosis, and wound surface healed after change dressing and skingrafting cover. All patients were followed up from 3 to 15 months with an average of(7.0±3.8) months. According to the upper extremity functional evaluation standard by hand surgery branch of Chinese Medical Association, 2 cases got excellent results, 7 good, 2 fair and 1 poor.

CONCLUSIONSReverse island skin flap of upper carpal cutaneous branches of ulnar artery for the treatment of soft tissue defect caused by hand wound has advantages of concealed donor area, no need sacrifice the main blood vessel, flap thin and no need repair it for thick and thin.