Adipose tissue is an abundant source of various cell types including not only adipocytes, but also progenitor and endothelial cells from thestroma. Interest in adipose tissue has surged since the identification in 2001 of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) obtained from adipose tissue by enzymatic digestion and centrifugation. SVF has been proven effective in ensuring tissue regeneration, thus improving tissue trophicityand vascularisation. These effects have generated strong interest among both physicians and surgeons, particularly in the field of hand surgery. Several applications have been developed and used, for instance to treat Dupuytren's contracture, systemic sclerosis-related hand lesions, and skin ageing at the hand. Other uses are being evaluated in clinical or animal studies. The objective of this article is to review the capabilities of adipose tissue and their current and potential applications in hand surgery.

Dorsal lesions in Dupuytren’s disease are rare and data concerning their epidemiology and management are sparse. We conducted a systematic review to summarize reported cases of dorsal Dupuytren’s disease. Pubmed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched from 1893 to 2018, and 17 articles were selected (525 patients). The male to female ratio was 3.8:1. The dorsal disease was bilateral in 225 patients (50%). The index was the most commonly affected finger (48 patients). The proximal interphalangeal joint was the most commonly affected (484 cases). The most frequently reported lesions were knuckle pads (503 patients), dorsal nodules between interphalangeal joints (14 patients), boutonnière deformities (12 patients), and swan-neck deformities (2 patients). Nearly half of the included patients were treated surgically. Postoperative functional result depended on the treated lesion. Most of the included studies had a low level of evidence. Higher-quality studies are necessary to confirm our findings.

The anatomical basis of the flap's harvesting and the possibilities of elbow coverage are discussed through the selected articles. The different indications according to the areas of soft tissues defects are considered.

Post-traumatic soft tissue defects sometimes require sequential flap coverage to achieve complete healing. In the era of propeller flaps, which were developed to reduce donor site morbidity, Feng et al. introduced the concept of the free-style puzzle flap, in which a previously harvested flap becomes its own donor site by recycling the perforator. However, when a perforator cannot be found with a Doppler device, we suggest performing a new type of flap, the flip-flap puzzle flap, which combines two concepts: the free-style puzzle flap and the flip-flap flap described by Voche et al. in the 1990s. We present the cases of three patients who achieved complete healing through this procedure.

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