2011 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 304-308
De Quervain's disease can be treated by conservative therapies such as intra-sheath triamcinolone injections and surgical procedures. Superficial radial nerve injury occurring after injection or surgery is one of most serious complications influencing patient satisfaction. Furthermore, it is difficult to treat such a lesion. We describe the usefulness of a radial artery perforator-based adipose flap in a 29-year-old female patient with adherent superficial radial nerve injury after surgery for de Quervain's disease. After undergoing surgical release of the first compartment, the patient complained of pain and paresthesia of her thumb. Surgical findings demonstrated evidence of superficial radial nerve injury with perineural fibrosis. Following neurolysis, a radial artery perforator-based adipose flap was used to envelop the nerve. Postoperatively, the patient reported complete relief of the symptoms. The superficial nerves are considered vascular relays due to the associated neurocutaneous arteries. Therefore, we consider it useful to wrap the adherent nerve with a perforator-based adipose flap after performing neurolysis.
