Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Free Flap for Coverage of Hand Injuries

Abstract

Open de-gloving hand injuries with exposed tendons and bones require coverage by a flap. Conventionally used groin or abdominal flaps are cumbersome to patients due to extensive dressing and prolonged passive positioning of the hand until pedicle division. Superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) flap is evolved from a traditional groin flap, and because of its thinness, pliability, and concealed donor site, it is an ideal option for single-stage reconstruction of traumatic hand defects avoiding discomforting passive hand position, joint stiffness, and unexpected flap avulsion which were associated with traditional groin flap. All patients with exposed bones or tendons due to traumatic hand injuries who opted for free flap coverage during the year 2018 to 2020 were enrolled in our study. After initial debridement, the wound was covered with a free SCIA flap. Duration of hospital stay, days out of work, the number of dressings required, postoperative complications, and any secondary procedures for flap readjustment were noted till six months postoperatively. A total of eight patients were included in the study. The mechanism of injury was road traffic accidents in a single patient and occupational injury in eight patients. The average duration of hospital stay was six days after reconstructive surgery. The average number of dressings a patient had was 18, and only two patients required flap thinning. Only one patient had a postoperative infection which was managed with dressings and antibiotics. One patient had peripheral flap necrosis. We had zero flap reexploration. Therefore, we conclude that hand defects coverage with SCIA flap leads to a smaller number of working days lost and rarely requires secondary procedures.

Comparative Study Between Pedicled Groin Flap and Free Anterolateral Thigh Flap in Reconstruction of Complex Soft Tissue Hand Defects

“…In agreement with our study (Hussain et al, (2022). Found that the use of the pedicled groin flap in hand reconstruction more frequently in elderly patients [11].…”

“…In line with our findings, Kayano et al (2012) reported that the reconstructive time, defined as the time taken for the surgery in minutes, was longer for the Free ALT flap group, with a mean of 392 minutes compared to 105 minutes for the Pedicled groin flap group [11].…”