No abstract

The composite graft is the only surgical method that is able to maintain digital length and provide soft tissue coverage without donor site morbidities in microsurgically non-replantable fingertip amputations. This study aimed to explore the risk factors that determine the survival of composite grafts. Clinical characteristics associated with graft survival were retrospectively analysed by a comparison between the graft survival and failure groups. Of 94 patients who underwent a composite graft for fingertip amputation, the graft survived in 84 (89%). Surviving grafts showed reperfusion within 1 week. Multivariate analysis revealed that graft failure was independently associated with a crushing injury. Based on the risk factors from the comparison analyses and a review of previously published studies, a cutting injury, grafting the injured finger within 5 hours of injury, and being a non-smoker are associated with good results. In these circumstances, excellent outcomes with a high success rate can be achieved by composite graft in most adult patients as an alternative treatment to microsurgical replantation. Level of evidence: IV.

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the foot remains a challenge due to its specialized tissue for weightbearing and ambulation. Considering the principle of replacing "like with like," adjacent soft tissues would be a best option for a donor site. Although several kinds of reverse-flow island flaps for the lower leg have been well described, intrinsic foot reverse flow flaps have been rarely reported. We describe 3 kinds of reverse-flow intrinsic fasciocutaneous flaps (RIFFs) for foot reconstruction. From September 2012 to August 2015, a retrospective study was done on case notes of all patients who had a RIFF for coverage of soft tissue defects within the foot following trauma or tumor ablation. A total of 7 patients were included in this study, with an average of 5 × 3.5 cm sized defects in the forefoot, second and third web space, and sole, which were reconstructed with RIFF. All flaps were well perfused and recovered excellent function of the foot with satisfactory aesthetics and minimal limitations in range of motion. However, one case showed a complication of venous congestion, due to remnant scar tissues, which resolved after medical leech application. Donor defects healed completely with split thickness skin grafting in all cases. Soft tissue defects within the foot were repaired successfully by RIFF. In spite of its technical challenges, it is a reliable one-stage procedure requiring no microsurgical anastomosis. Precise vascular evaluation of the reverse inflow has to be preceded for satisfactory outcome of RIFF.

Subungual masses accompanying nail deformity are of common occurrence and uniquely confirmed by histopathologic examination postoperatively. Although glomus tumor is most frequently diagnosed with its specific clinical triad, other rarer diagnoses have also been reported. Though ganglion cysts are predominantly found around the distal phalangeal joint as a mucous cyst and myxoid cyst, they might also appear as a subungual mass accompanied by nail deformity thereby mimicking the glomus tumor. A 54-year-old woman visited our outpatient clinic with nail deformity and pain on the tip of the right thumb. She had a history of nail root injury on her right thumb which occurred 3 months back at a nail shop. Physical examination revealed a convex point with tenderness on the right thumbnail. Doppler ultrasonography revealed the presence of 0.43×0.26×0.53 cm3 sized non-specific cystic lesion with hypoechogenicity and no abnormal vascularity. Complete excision of the cyst was performed and histopathology revealed a ganglion cyst. Subungual ganglion cyst is rarely occurred and known to be usually asymptomatic. Herein, we report a case of ganglion cyst of subungual area which was mistakenly diagnosed as a glomus tumor preoperatively.