IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-6-11-13275 Original Research Paper First dorsal metacarpal artery islanded flap: A useful flap for reconstruction of thumb Irrinki Suresh Dr. November 2017 6 11 01 02 ABSTRACT

 Thumb pulp defects are commonly due to avulsion injuries. It is very important to reconstruct these defects using sensate flaps as the thumb pulp needs to be sensate for implementing the various functions of the thumb. A very good option for coverage of these defects is the islanded first dorsal metacarpal artery flap. Our study was done over a period of 2 years and involved 8 consecutive cases of thumb pulp defects treated at our institution. The patients included 6 males and 2 female, ranging in age from 16 to 35 years old. The flap size ranged from 2 × 1.5 cm to 6 × 3 cm. We had only one complication in the form of partial flap necrosis, which fortunately healed following debridement without the need for a secondary procedure. All our cases were done under regional anesthesia with tourniquet control. All the patients had good fine touch and average two–point discrimination of 6 mm, which was satisfactory. Our good results further reinforce the islanded first dorsal metacarpal artery flap as one the best flaps for sensate reconstruction of thumb pulp defects when compared to The options vary from secondary intention healing, free skin grafts, lateral triangular advancement flaps, “V–Y” advancement flaps to palmar advancement and cross fingerflaps. It replaces the soft tissue loss at the thumb pulp with minimal donor site morbidity and with good return of thumb pulp sensation.