The Lateral Proximal Phalanx Flap for Contractures and Soft Tissue Defects in the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint: An Anatomical and Clinical Study.

The management of contractures and soft tissue defects in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) finger joint remains a challenge. We report a transposition flap from the lateral skin of the proximal phalanx that is based on perforating branches of the digital arteries and can be used safely for both palmar and dorsal cover defects. We first completed an anatomic study, dissecting 20 fingers in fresh cadavers with arterial injections and made the new flap in patients with dorsal or palmar defects in PIP joints.

Predegenerated great auricular nerve graft in facial nerve defects.

Objective: To compare axonal regeneration in an animal model after the repair of facial nerve defects with pre-degenerated (PD) and non-PD (NPD) great auricular nerve grafts.

Materials And Methods: The buccal branch of the facial nerve was completely sectioned in 18 New Zealand rabbits, which were randomized to 3 treatment groups: PD great auricular nerve graft repair (PD group), NPD great auricular nerve graft repair (NPD group), and immediate end-to-end repair (control group). Axonal regeneration was examined using optical microscopy to assess the following variables: total number of myelinated axons and regenerating sprouts (MARS) that crossed the distal anastomosis, numbers of intra and extrafascicular MARS, and area of myelinated axons.