Clinical application of pedicled dorsoulnar island flap based on dorsal descending branch of ulnar artery

Objective To summarize clinical application of the repair soft tissue defect of the hands with the pedicled dorsoulnar island flaps based on the dorsal descending branch of the ulnar artery.Methods Six patients(4men,2 women)with soft tissue defect of the hands underwent reconstruction with this method.Four cases were right hands and 2 cases left.They ranged in age from 16 to 46 years(mean,30y).Soft tissue defect ranged from 3cm×3cm to 4cm×7cm.The dorsoulnar island flaps ranged from 3.5cm×4cm to 5cm×8cm.The donor site was closed directly in 2 cases and meshed split-thickness skin graft in 4 cases.Results One flap donor site developed distal tip site minor necrosis of skin graft and the gradual wound healed by daily wound dressings after 2 weeks.All flaps had survived completely without major complication and with satisfactory clinical results.There was no remarkable donor site morbidity.Conclusion The island flap is nourished by dorsal descending branch of the ulnar artery.The flaps seem to has highly vascularize,a constant vascular anastomy and a long vascular pedicle.The island flap is suitable for repair of soft tissue defect of hand.