[Reconstruction of through and through gunshot injuries of the hand with a double skin paddle reverse-flow forearm radial flap. Two case reports].

The authors report two cases of gunshot wounds to the hand treated with a double skin paddle reverse-flow forearm flap. The two cases, male and female, were due to a self-inflicted rifle injury. The wounds were severe and extensive with full-thickness palmar and dorsal skin, tendon, muscle, bone, vessel and nerve losses. Treatment was performed in a single stage with skeletal stabilization, bone grafting and nerve and tendon reconstruction. The double palmar and dorsal skin defect was reconstructed with a double skin paddle reverse-flow forearm flap which was routed through the hand wound. The forearm flap is the sole way, free flaps excepted, to achieve reliable hand dorsal and palmar coverage in a single stage. In addition, this technique simplifies the reconstruction by using a local flap and allows better management for healing and rehabilitation as compared to a multiple flap procedure.