Objective To explore the survival rate and early-term effects of sensory reconstruction of the modified first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMCA) flap in treatment of thumb distal soft tissue defect.Methods From March 2004 to October 2007, 65 patients with soft tissue defects of the thumb underwent the FDMCA flap in our department. Forty-nine cases with complete data were included in the study. There were 37 males and 12 females, with an average age of 32 years (ranged, 18-65 years). The conventional surgical methods were used in 18 cases while the improved surgical methods were in 31 cases. The distal necrosis, the vascular crisis rate and the sensory recovery were recorded. Results The mean follow-up period was 2 years (ranged, 20 months to 3 years). Forty-six flaps survived completely. Vascular crisis occurred in five cases harvested by the conventional methods. Eventually, three of them had a partial distal necrosis.Improved FDMCA flap survived well in all 31 patients. Flaps in these patients with nerve anastomosis restored satisfied sense and all sense were located in the thumb. Eighteen cases of nerve transfer group had different levels of mixed feelings (33%) or ectopic sensory (62%). Sense was located in the thumb completely in 1 case. Conclusion The modified FDMCA flap significantly increased the survival rate. Neurorrhaphy could make the sense of the flap locate in the thumb; however it had not been proved that its impact on the recovery of two-point discrimination and stereognosis.

Objective To introduce a modified replantation for thumb rotating avulsion amputation,and to evaluate its short term clinical outcome.Methods From January 2007 to July 2009,7 patients with thumb rotating avulsion amputation underwent replantation,including 6 males and 1 female,aged from 21 to 47 years (average,28.3 years).The amputation level of each thumb was metacarpophalangeal joint.During operation,fusion of metacarpophalangeal joint was performed according to injury degree of soft tissue; interphalangeal joint of the thumb was fixed in 15 degrees of flexion by sewing flexor pollicis longus muscle tendon and extensor pollicis longus muscle tendon to tendon sheath or soft tissue; the superficial vein harvested from ipsilateral forearm was used to bridge the dorsal carpal branch of radial artery and the ulnar palmacollateral artery of the thumb; direct anastomoses of dorsal veins were performed in 6 cases and venous transplantation in 1 case; and bilateral nerves were transferred to the back of the first metacarpal and anastomosed to the superficial branch of the radial nerve.Results All 7 replanted thumbs survived completely.Arterial crisis occurred in 1 case after operation,which was cured after operative and medication treatment.The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 24 months.The appearance and opposition function of replanted thumbs were satisfactory and the sensation of fingertip recovered to S4 in 4 cases and to S3 in 3 cases.The two point discrimination ranged from 8 to 12 mm.Conclusion Because bridging the dorsal carpal branch of radial artery and the ulnar palmar collateral artery of the thumb with a superficial vein harvested from ipsilateral forearm to reconstruct blood supply of the thumb is available and easy to be performed,this modified replantation is an ideal way to repair thumb rotating avulsion amputation.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified thin anterolateral thigh flaps for recon-struction of hand and foot defects. Methods Between March, 2016 and September, 2017, 17 patients were recon-structed with modified thin anterolateral thigh flap. There were 6 cases for reconstruction of hand, and 3 of them were located in the back dorsal of hand defects. There were 11 cases for reconstruction of ankle and foot, and 5 of them were located in the dorsal of foot. The size of the flap was 5 cm×3 cm-33 cm×10 cm. The traditional perforator flap was elevated just above the deep fascial plane. The debulking procedures could follow before the pedicle was cut off. The modified method was that the flap was elevated from the superficial fascia and the plane between deep and superficial fat without intraoperative debulking procedures. Results Three flaps were eventually survived after secondary ex-ploratory operation caused by the hematoma. Two flaps had partial loss, 1 of which needed secondary skin grafting, and the other flap healed with additional intention. Followed-up period was 3-18 (average, 7) months . All flaps showed relatively good contour and the patients were satisfied with clinical outcomes. Conclusion It is a safe and reliable way that perforator flap can be elevated from the superficial fascia and the plane between deep and superficial fat. It can obtain a thin flap immediately and reduce donor-site morbidity without additional defatting and time-con-suming. The flap is soft with good contour. This technique is an ideal option for covering defects composed of dorsal of the hand or foot and the head and neck regions.