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Comparison of reverse dorsoradial flap for thumb reconstruction: narrow pedicle versus wide pedicle

  • Handsurgery
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The reverse homodigital dorsoradial flap remains a useful alternative for covering thumb defects. However, the description of pedicle width of dorsoradial flap is not clear. The aim of this study was to compare the results of narrow pedicle with wide pedicle in dorsoradial flaps and describe our experience with the thumb reconstruction.

Materials and methods

From July 2014 to February 2019, 42 patients were treated with the reverse dorsoradial flap for thumb reconstruction. The patients were divided as Group A (pedicle width ≤ 0.8 cm) and Group B (pedicle width > 0.8 cm). Flap survival, time to return to work, flap sensibility, the range of motion (ROM) of the joints, and final aesthetic outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Respectively in the Group A (17 cases) and Group B (25 cases), 14–19 flaps survived uneventfully, whereas 3–6 flaps experienced venous congestion with no or partial flap loss. No significant difference was identified between the two groups for the incidence of venous congestion, static 2-point discrimination and ROM of the injured thumbs. Time to return to work was significantly shorter in Group A. The aesthetic satisfaction of the patients in Group A was significantly better comparing with that in Group B.

Conclusions

The reverse homodigital dorsoradial flap with narrow pedicle width is associated with more favorable outcomes in terms of time lost from work and aesthetic satisfaction of the patients.

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Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China

    Hongjiu Qin & Tao Ma

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Jiang Xia

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital of TCM, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

    Wenxian Zhang

Authors
  1. Hongjiu Qin
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  2. Tao Ma
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  3. Jiang Xia
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  4. Wenxian Zhang
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Contributions

All the named authors were actively involved in the planning, enactment, and writing up of the study.

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Correspondence to Wenxian Zhang.

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The author(s) declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College.

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Written informed consent was obtained from the patient(s) for their anonymized information to be published in this article.

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Qin, H., Ma, T., Xia, J. et al. Comparison of reverse dorsoradial flap for thumb reconstruction: narrow pedicle versus wide pedicle. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 140, 987–992 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-020-03467-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-020-03467-7

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