• Q-S Huang, X Wu, H-Y Zheng, P Zhou, K Wang, X-W Zhou, Z-W Liu, and Z-B Chen.
• Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China, hqsw@hotmail.com.
• Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2015 Jun 1; 41 (3): 293297293-7.

PurposeThe methods of repairing defects in fingers, volar skin of the palm and soft tissue were investigated.MethodsFrom 2010 to the present, we examined 12 cases in which medial plantar skin flaps were used to repair defects in the fingers and palm. According to skin and soft tissue defects in the fingers and palm, a flap was designed using the medial plantar artery as the vessel pedicle. The flap was dissected and isolated between the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis, and transplanted to the hand. We then observed the skin colour, skin texture and tactile sensitivity of the hand, as well as the shape and function of the foot.ResultsFollow-up for 3-28 months showed that the flaps survived in all 12 cases, with soft skin, healthy appearance, colour consistent with the palm skin and no pigmentation. The two-point discrimination was 5-7 mm. The donor foot functioned well, and the scar at the donor site was slight and had an aesthetic appearance.ConclusionThe free medial plantar flap is an ideal flap for repairing soft tissue defects in the palm.

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