Abstract
We report the results of a novel method using the forearm venous flap with the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve for reconstruction of a composite soft tissue defect of a digit, which included a digital nerve, artery, and skin. Four patients underwent the reconstruction (1 index finger, 2 middle fingers, and 1 ring finger) were evaluated. The length of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve grafts ranged from 2 to 5.5 cm, with a mean length of 3.6 cm. All of the venous flaps were successful. In the 3 patients for whom the follow-up period was over 6 months, the sensibility scores of the tips of the treated fingers were 11, 6, and 5, respectively, on s-2 PD and all 3 could sense filament #6 on the Semmes-Weinstein test. The results of this study show that, in patients with composite soft tissue defect including a digital nerve, artery and skin, forearm venous flap with the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve grafting should be considered as a clinical alternative for nerve reconstruction of the digits.
