Finger Soft Tissue Reconstruction Using Arterialized Venous Free Flaps Having 2 Parallel Veins

Purpose Arterialized venous free flaps with a single straight venous axis may require redirection of either the efferent or affere vein for anastornosis to the digital vessels. To simplify these flaps, the authors propose use of an arterialized venous free flap having 2 parallel veins that does not require redirection of the veins. Methods The authors performed 44 arterialized venous free flaps having 2 parallel veins for the reconstruction of digital soft tissue defects. The mean area of coverage was 6.5 cm(2). The donor sites included the volar aspect of the distal forearm in 35 cases, the thenar area in 8 cases, and the dorsal aspect of the foot in 1 case. Results Thirty-nine of the 44 flaps survived. Complete flap necrosis occurred in 5 cases, and flap congestion was seen in 28 cases. Conclusions The authors had satisfactory results using arterialized venous free flaps having 2 parallel veins. By using these flaps, the authors were able to simplify the technique of arterialized venous flaps. (J Hand Surg 2008;33A: 1802-1806. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.)