Use of free dorsoulnar perforator flap in the treatment of postburn contractures of the fingers.

BACKGROUND

Burns of the hand cause not only the impairment of hand function but also cosmetic deformity. Cases with dysfunctional hands with severe contractures increase if rehabilitation of the acutely burned hand is not done properly.

PURPOSE: We present the use of free dorsoulnar perforator flap in the treatment of postburn contractures as an alternative when local flaps cannot be used.

METHODS

Free dorsoulnar perforator flap was used in the treatment of seven hands with postburn contracture. Five of them had multiple digital postburn flexion contractures. Combined use of cross-finger and side finger transposition flaps was preferred when the adjacent finger was suitable for being cross-finger flap donor. When the adjacent finger was not suitable for being cross-finger flap donor, the free dorsoulnar perforator flap was preferred. Two of the patients had postburn web contractures. Free dorsoulnar perforator flap was used to release the web and to form a new web commissure.

CONCLUSION

The free dorsoulnar perforator flap could be a good alternative to cover the defects created with the hand contracture release.