Background: Emmett has described a single triangular flap that contains a partial skin bridge on one of its sides and called it the hatchet flap. It was successfully used for defects located on various body parts. The aim of this study was to present the authors' experience and results obtained with this flap in fingertip amputations. Methods: Nine patients who have completed their 1-year follow-up period were included in the study. Two-point discrimination and stiffness were tested, and the patients were queried about the existence of cold intolerance, hypersensitivity, numbness, and pain in the early (3 months) and late (1 year) postoperative periods. Results: The amputations were located on the thumb in three patients, index finger in one patient, middle finger in three patients, and ring finger in two patients. The average defect size was 2.1 ϫ 1.5 cm. Partial wound dehiscence was observed in one patient. The flap has provided good protective padding and aesthetic contour for the fingers. All incisions healed with inconspicuous scars. Average two-point discrimination was 6.3 mm (range, 4 to 8 mm). Cold intolerance was observed in two (22.2 percent) and paresthesia in one patient (11.1 percent). Joint stiffness was not noted. Most patients could return to their normal routine in approximately 4 to 5 weeks.
Conclusions:The hatchet flap is a good alternative for transverse and lateral oblique fingertip amputations and valuable for volar oblique amputations (defects Ͻ2 cm) with more extensive flap designs. The technique is simple and safe and provides good protective padding and acceptable tactile gnosis. (Plast.
The tensor fascia lata flap is one of the appropriate choices for the coverage of trochanteric pressure sores. The authors designed a new, hatched-shaped tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap with distal Z-plasty closure and applied it to four trochanteric defects in 4 patients. Satisfactory results were obtained in all patients. The hatchet-shaped tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap is very safe, reliable, and practical. Designing the flap in a hatchet shape allows one to use the proximal and well-vascularized portion of the flap in the trochanteric pressure sore area. Another important advantage is the possibility of reuse resulting from recurrence. Prevention of a "dog-ear" deformity at the recipient site provides a smooth contour on the lateral aspect of the thigh. Another advantage is the tension-free Z-plasty closure of the donor site without need of grafting.
This study was carried out to observe the isolated effects of pedicle torsion on island skin flaps, without further damaging the pedicle. Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighting 240 to 300 gr, were used, and hexagonal flaps with edges measuring 1.5 cm and pedicles measuring 1 cm in length were raised in the inguinal region. The animals were divided into two groups. In Group A, flaps were re-sutured to the donor beds without any rotation. In Group B, flaps were rotated 360 degrees, applying the same degree of torsion to their pedicles before re-suturing. After 7 days, the percentage of surviving skin areas of the flaps was determined by planimetry, and transverse sections of the flaps and pedicles were taken and evaluated in terms of signs of arterial or venous insufficiency. Statistically significant differences between the groups were determined by analyses using the multiple comparisons test. Pedicle torsion in Group B did not affect flap viability, both macroscopically and microscopically. The presented study shows that 360-degree torsion applied to the pedicle of the flap in this model had no effect on flap viability.
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