Parallelogram flaps functionally better than homodigital island flaps for fingertip reconstruction

A modified local transposition flap ("parallelogram flap") surgery was performed for fingertip injuries by Zhang et al. The authors compared the clinical effects of parallelogram flap and homodigital island flaps in fingertip reconstruction. The study was conducted at Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

The study collected patients who underwent parallelogram transposition flaps and homodigital island flaps to repair fingertip defects. 150 cases (150 fingers) were included in the study. All operations were performed by one surgical team. Record the operation time, two-point discrimination (2PD), Total Active Movement (TAM) and the MHQ (Michigan Hand Questionnaire) of the injured fingers to evaluate the therapeutic effect.

The results of the study were:

• All parallelogram (Group A) and homodigital island flap (Group B) had survived postoperatively.

• The operative duration of Group A (31.2±3.3 min) is shorter than Group B (97.8±6.1 min) (P<0.05).

• At the 6-month follow-up, there was no difference with the two-point discrimination (2PD) of the palmar part of the flaps and the Total Active Movement (TAM) of injured figures in Group A and Group B.