[Free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap in the treatment of finger with skin and soft tissue defect].

Objective: To explore clinical effects of repairing skin and soft tissue defect of finger with free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap.

Methods: Totally 8 patients with finger skin and soft tissue defect repaired with free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap were treated from May 2021 to November 2022, including 7 males and 1 female aged from 24 to 54 years old, and soft tissue defect area ranged from 3.0 cm×1.5 cm to 5.0 cm×3.0 cm. The time from injury to flap repair ranged from 3 to 83 h. The free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap was applied to repair finger defect, the area of the flap ranged from 3.5 cm×2.0 cm to 5.2 cm×3.5 cm, the donor area of flap was sutured directly. The survival, appearance, texture and donor complications of the flap were observed after operation, and Dargan functional standard was used to evaluate clinical effect of finger function.

Results: All flap of 8 patients were survived, and followed up from 3 to 12 months. There was no obvious swelling, soft texture, obvious pigmentation, linear intaglio in donor area only, and without obvious complications were found. Among them, 3 patients'skin flaps were repaired for the defect of palm of the fingers, and sensory recovery was good, two-point discrimination ranged from 5 to 9 mm. According to Dargan functional evaluation, 3 patients excellent, and 5 good.

Conclusion: Free posterior interosseous artery perforation branch flap could be used to repair the defect of finger. The thickness of flap is moderate, operation is convenient, appearance and texture of the operative flap are good, and the donor site is small without obvious complications, and obtain satisfactory clinical effect.