Page 24 - Read Online

Van Hove et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2023;10:8 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2022.59
Aesthetic Research

Review Open Access

Management of soft tissue defects of the thumb

Bram Van Hove 1,2 , Francisco Del Piñal 1
1
Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Private Practice Madrid, Madrid 28001, Spain.
2
Orthopaedic Surgery Department, RZ Heilig Hart, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Correspondence to: Bram Van Hove, Orthopaedic surgery department, RZ Heilig Hart, Naamsestraat 105, Leuven 3000,
Belgium. E-mail: bram.vanhove@outlook.com

How to cite this article: Van Hove B, Del Piñal F. Management of soft tissue defects of the thumb. Plast Aesthet Res 2023;10:8.
https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2022.59

Received: 14 Jun 2022 First Decision: 13 Jan 2023 Revised: 17 Jan 2023 Accepted: 20 Feb 2023 Published: 23 Feb 2023

Academic Editors: Elias Polykandriotis, Bruno Battiston, Pierluigi Tos Copy Editor: Ying Han Production Editor: Ying Han

Abstract
Hand surgery has undergone substantial changes in recent years, especially for reconstructive surgery techniques.
We discuss the management of soft tissue defects of the thumb, discussing indications, and operative pearls and
pitfalls. We cover non-operative treatment and local advancement flaps for small distal soft tissue defects and
pedicled flaps for more significant defects. We also discuss composite vascularized free flaps such as second-toe
neurocutaneous flaps and partial hallux transfer for compound defects or total amputations. This article aims to
provide hand surgeons with an update on reconstructing an injured thumb.

Keywords: Hand surgery, reconstructive surgery, soft tissue defects, thumb, trauma, free flap, partial hallux
transfer

INTRODUCTION
[1]
The thumb is the most important digit; its loss causes up to 40% of hand impairment . There are many
things that a surgeon should know about the beauty of this crucial digit. However, as this article is surgical,
the discussion will be oriented to the operative reconstruction of the thumb. We divided the subject into
terminal defects and intercalated defects. The aim is to give the reader an idea of how to approach an
injured thumb.

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
indicate if changes were made.

www.parjournal.net