NEUROSENSORY FREE FLAPS - DIGITS AND HAND

Repairing complex soft-tissue defects of the hand and fingers remains a daunting task. Critical sensibility is important for defects of the fingers, which can be replaced only with tissue from the palmar surfac e of the hand itself or by free-tissue transfer from the toes. Complex soft-tissue defects of the palm, dorsum of the hand, or first web spa ce can be replaced effectively by flaps that provide protective sensib ility. The standard flaps employed are the lateral arm or radial forea rm.