The Reverse Digital Artery Island Flap: An Update

A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Complications of Primary Fingertip Reconstruction Using Reverse-Flow Homodigital Island Flaps

“…All studies [6][7][8][9][11][12][13][14] reported complication data (n = 230). On average, 2 % had complete flap necrosis, 5 % had partial flap necrosis, 4 % experienced venous congestion, 4 % had flexion contracture, and 12 % experienced mild-to-moderate cold intolerance (Table 7).…”

“…After title and abstract search, 45 citations were identified that underwent full-text review. Ultimately, eight studies [6][7][8][9][11][12][13][14] met inclusion/exclusion criteria (Fig. 1).…”

“…Local flaps replace tissues ''like-with-like,'' but these flaps are limited to small-sized defects [21][22][23][24]. Various other methods of reconstruction have been used, including homodigital island flaps [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][25][26][27][28][29], cross-finger flaps [29][30][31], thenar flaps [32], and toe free flaps [33,34]. However, none has yielded entirely satisfactory results.…”

“…Previous studies [6][7][8][9][10] have reported satisfactory results using these flaps for fingertip defects, whereas other studies [11][12][13] have reported a high incidence of complications. The outcomes of reconstruction are not well known as most studies suffer from a small sample size.…”

Fingertip Amputations: Coverage, Local and Regional Flaps

“…In a subset of 22 patients in their series, the average two-point discrimination was 3.9 and 6.8 mm in the innervated and noninnervated flaps, respectively. Han et al reported an update of their experience with the retrograde island flap [18,19]. They reported that they no longer perform innervated flaps because the long-term results of sensation were no different statistically or clinically compared to nonin- Red markings ( arrows) indicate the transverse communicating arterial arcades at the necks of the proximal and middle phalanges.…”