Abstract
The digital artery perforator (DAP) flap has been applied for fingertip defect reconstructions. However, a high rate of venous congestion was reported, being a disadvantage of this procedure. Recently, the innervated DAP (IDAP) flap has been reported to be more advantageous than DAP flaps because of its low complication rate. We evaluated the results of fingertip reconstruction with IDAP flaps. Nine patients (9 fingers) underwent fingertip reconstruction with IDAP flaps at our institution. The mean age was 51.3 years (range, 24 to 64 years). The defect size was from 1.2×1.5 to 2.7×1.6 cm. The mean follow-up period was 5.2 months (range, 3 to 8 months). All flaps survived without contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint. A static 2-point discrimination test on the flaps measured 5 mm in seven patients and 6 mm in two patients. All patients registered sensitivity on the 0.5-G (number 4, green) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. The IDAP flap is useful for fingertip defect reconstruction because it is a simple, reliable and minimally invasive procedure, with a low complication rate similar with PIP joint contracture.
