The Flap Based On The Dorsal Branch Of The Digital Artery: Anatomy And Clinical Application

Objective: To investigate blood supply features of the flap based on the dorsal branchof thedigital artery and summarize clinical experience.Methods:5fresh adult upper limb specimens were injectedwith red latex via arteryand were dissected.The origin outer diameter， the course and anastomosis of thedorsalbranch of the digital artery were measured and observed.Distribution features ofdorsal branch of the digitalartery was further explored on X-ray images collected from onefresh adult upper limb specimen injected withlead oxide.Free flaps of dorsal branch of thedigital artery were used to repair soft tissue defects of finger pulp(6fingers of6patients).Results：The origin of the dorsal branch of the digital artery was relatively constant，and respectively located at the middle of proximal phalanx，the middle distal1/3ofproximal phalanx， themiddle of second phalanx and the distal of interphalangealjoints.Among them，the origin branch in the middledistal1/3of proximal phalanx wasconstant，with the outer diameter of0.2mm.6to18months’follow-upproved that，6flapssurvived well， with good blood supply， texture， flexibility and appearance.Thesensoryrecovery reached S3level.Conclusions: The dorsal branch of the digital artery is less variant.It is anidealselection for prepare free flaps to repair soft tissue defect of finger pulp.