The Bipedicle Advancement Flap on Skin Coverage After Mucous Cyst Excision:A Retrospective Study of 18 Cases.

Abstract

Background : Many patients have skin defects after digital mucous cyst (DMC) excision, and this study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of using a bipedicle advancement flap to cover such defects. Methods : From January 2016 to January 2018, DMCs on 18 fingers of 15 patients (4 males and 11 females, with a mean age of 64 years) were treated with cyst and osteophyte excision and a bipedicle advancement flap to cover the resultant defect in this retrospective study. Postoperative flap survival, healing and infection were evaluated. The pre- and postoperative ranges of motion (ROMs) of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) or thumb interphalangeal (IP) joints were recorded. Postoperative patients’ satisfaction was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS; 0～10). Results : The patients were followed up for 12-36 months (mean, 20 months). All the flaps survived, the incisions healed well without infection, and no cyst recurrence occurred. The postoperative ROM of the affected fingers was restored to the preoperative ROM by two months after surgery. No difference was found between the preoperative and postoperative ROMs. The score of patients’ satisfaction for surgery by means of VAS was 8.5±1.0. Conclusions : The bipedicle advancement flap is a simple and effective technique for covering skin defects following DMC excision.