Flap Related Complications Requiring Secondary Surgery in a Series of 851 Local Flaps Used for Fingertip Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND

Local flaps are widely used to cover fingertip defects. Errors in design or technical execution of the flap may lead to morbidity and additional surgical procedure. The purpose of this study was to review flap related complications requiring unplanned secondary surgery to characterize preventable issues.

METHODS

851 local flaps were used to reconstruct fingertip defects during a 9-year period. Patients requiring unplanned secondary surgery to address flap related complications were subjected to analysis.

RESULTS

31 of 851 flaps (3.6%) required unplanned secondary surgery because of flap related complications. The most reliable flap was VY advancement flap with only one (0.3%) re-operation. The reverse vascular island flap, cross finger flap, and neurovascular island flap were associated with the comparable number of complications (8.0%; 6.3%; and 3.8% respectively). Total or partial necrosis was the cause for re-operation in 6 patients (0.7%). The typical reason for secondary surgery was inadequate soft tissue cover of the tip with homodigital neurovascular island flap and flexion contracture with reverse vascular island flap. Cross finger flaps were revised because of poor graft take at the donor site, bulky flap or flap necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Local flaps are reliable operations to cover fingertip defects. Each flap has potential pitfalls, which may be avoided if the surgeon is aware of them.