INNERVATED RADIAL THENAR FLAP FOR SENSORY RECONSTRUCTION OF FINGERS

A radial thenar flap, which is supplied by the superficial palmar bran ch of the radial artery and innervated by the superficial branch of th e radial nerve, was used in four patients for sensory reconstruction o f the fingers. Two patients had degloving injuries of the hand and two had amputation injuries of the thumb. Three of the cases underwent fr ee-flap transfers, and one case underwent a reverse-flow island flap. The size of these flaps was about 3 x 5 cm except in one case, where a 15 x 5 cm flap combined with a radial forearm flap was used. Sensory reinnervation was excellent and donor site morbidity was minimal in al l four cases. An innervated radial thenar flap from the ipsilateral ha nd offers an alternative choice to reconstruct large palmar defects of the fingers.