en تخصصي Special مقالات اصيل Original Article <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%">BACKGROUND</span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%;font-weight:normal">&nbsp;Reconstruction of complex soft tissue defects of the thumb, with exposure of tendons, joints or bones, has always been a difficult task. We evaluated the functional and esthetic outcomes of 1^st dorsal metacarpal artery island flap in reconstruction of post-traumatic soft tissue defects of the thumb. </span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%">METHODS</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%; font-weight:normal"> </span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%;font-weight:normal">Between January 2012 and June 2014, fifteen patients with complex post-traumatic soft tissue thumb defects underwent 1^st dorsal metacarpal artery island flap. Sensory function was evaluated with static 2-point discrimination and cortical reorientation. The mobility of the thumb was tested by the Kapandji score. The esthetic outcome was assessed. Patient&#39;s subjective satisfaction was evaluated by the visual analogue scale.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%"> </span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%">RESULTS</span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%;font-weight:normal">&nbsp;The mean flap size was 33.3&times;17.7 mm. All donor sites were grafted by full-thickness skin grafts from the groin. Fourteen flaps survived completely and one had distal flap necrosis was treated conservatively. The mean static two-point discrimination was 10.4 mm. Cortical reorientation was complete in 40%. The average Kapandji score was 7.1. The esthetic outcome was excellent in six, good in eight and poor in one subject. After a mean follow up period of 18.2 months, the mean subjective satisfaction score was 8.1; most patients regained all functions of the thumb and index finger and were pleased with the cosmetic appearance of the flap and donor site.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 200%"> </span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%">CONCLUSION</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 200%;font-weight:normal"> </span></h3> <h3 style="text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:200%;font-weight:normal">First dorsal metacarpal artery flap offers a sensate, pliable and versatile coverage for small to moderate sized thumb defects. Moreover, it provides good functional and esthetic outcomes with minimal donor site morbidity.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 200%"></span></h3> Thumb, Soft tissue, Defect, First dorsal metacarpal artery flap, Reconstruction 151 158 http://wjps.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-254-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Samir M Ghoraba 10031947532846006088 10031947532846006088 No Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Burns Department, Tanta Faculty of Medicine, Tanta, Egypt wael hussein waelhussein_558@yahoo.com 10031947532846006089 10031947532846006089 Yes