Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery ISSN: 0970-0358 EISSN: 1998-376x Vol. 42, Num. 2, 2009, pp. 269-269

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 42, No. 2, July-December, 2009, pp. 269

Letter To Editor

Another use of Foucher's flap

Ananta A. Kulkarni, Suhas V. Abhyankar, Rohit R. Singh, Ganesh S. Chaudhari

Department of Plastic Surgery, Dr D.Y.Patil Hospital & Research Centre, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Correspondence Address: Dr. Ananta A Kulkarni, Department of Plastic Surgery, Padmashree Dr. D Y Patil Hospital and Research Centre, Sector -5, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharasthra - 400 706, India.

anantakulkarni@hotmail.com

Code Number: pl09063

DOI: 10.4103/0970-0358.59299

Sir,

In respect to the article, Satish C, Nema S; First dorsal metacarpal artery islanded flap: a useful flap for reconstruction of thumb pulp defects. Indian J Plast Surg 2009;42:32-5, we would like to describe another use of Foucher's flap for palmar defect.

Traumatic palmar defects exposing tendons and nerves are usually covered by Groin flap and reversed radial forearm flap. We have done five Foucher's flaps up till now, four were for a thumb defect as described in this article and one was for a defect in the palm [Figure - 1], [Figure - 2], since Foucher's flap has a wide arch of rotation [Figure - 3] ^[1] .

The venous drainage of the Foucher's flap is through the concomitant veins of the First dorsal metacarpal artery that are present in the areolar tissue in the pedicle of the island flap ^[2] .

The reason for partial flap necrosis might be tension in the tunnel and postoperative oedema, if the primary closure of the donor defect is attempted. So the tunnel can be opened to avoid undue tension.

In our series of five patients, we have grafted the donor defect as well as the pedicle of the flap in two out of five patients, and in these two patients flaps survived completely.

References

Copyright 2009 - Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery

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