Toe-to-thumb reconstruction

Reconstruction of mutilating hand injuries by microsurgical free tissue transfers from the foot

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to present various hand reconstruction methods and provide technical notes regarding the treatment of mutilating hand injuries using free-tissue transfers from the foot and to investigate whether these transfers provide patients with a usable hand or not.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety patients with mutilating hand injuries were included in the study. A total of 101 procedures were performed. Patients were contacted by phone to evaluate their working status and to record any complaints regarding their donor sites. The Quickdash questionnaire was conducted for the 53 patients who could be reached. Operative techniques, secondary procedures, finger survival, and physiotherapy data were noted retrospectively.

RESULTS

In 36 patients, a trimmed great toe was transferred to the thumb. Second toe-to-thumb transfers were performed in 8 patients, and second toe-to-finger transfers were performed in 10 patients. In 13 patients, 2 toes from one side were transferred, and in 6 patients, 3 toes were transferred to the hand. Bilateral toe transfers were performed in 9 patients. Eight patients underwent joint transfers, of which 2 involved joint transfers from both feet. The overall finger survival rate for the transfer procedures was 95.04%. The average Quickdash score of the patients who could be reached (n = 53) was 27.49, with 62.3% of the patients being able to use their hands in their previous jobs, and 26.4% needing to change their jobs because of their hand injuries. 41.5% of the patients had no donor site complaints. 47.2% had mild complaints, and 11.3% had major donor site complaints.

CONCLUSION

Multiple-toe transfer techniques along with flap coverage options should be considered, and delicate planning is mandatory to achieve at least a basic or acceptable hand. Three toes, including the great toe, can be transferred in a single operation by dissecting both the dorsal and plantar arterial systems. Crush injuries of the dorsal side of the hand may be reconstructed using combined transfers of bones, joints, extensor tendons, and skin. In our series, 88.7% of patients with mutilating hand injuries were able to return to work after we performed tissue transfers from the foot.

Cosmetic and functional results of a newly reconstructed thumb by combining the phalanx of second toe and the great toenail flap transplantation

Background

Microsurgical toe-to-hand transfer is a gold standard when it comes to repairing a thumb defect. Great toenail flap, thumbnail valva flap, free great toe, and second toe transplantation are the common methods in thumb reconstruction. Second toe transplantation achieves good function, but poor esthetics. Great toe transplantation achieves better esthetics, but hindered walking, due to the foot’s loss of the great toe and moreover suboptimal thumb function. It is difficult to maintain both functional and esthetic satisfaction in thumb reconstruction.

Methods

We experimented with three different methods of toe to hand transfer. From October 2009 to July 2019, 30 patients with traumatic thumb defects received one of 3 different kinds of thumb reconstruction in our clinic according to their level of amputation. Divided evenly into three groups of ten, group one received a great toe transplantation, group two received a second toe transplantation, and group three received a combined great toenail flap and second toe phalanx transplantation. Each of the patients’ thumbs had different levels of amputation at the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) or distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ).

Results

One patient suffered from a partial flap necrosis and received a groin flap to cover the defect. No other thumbs had any complications. The functional and esthetic results of both the donor and the recipient sites were satisfactory. Results show that, for patients with traumatic thumb defects, the combined transfer of flap and second toe phalanx was the best option.

Conclusions

Compared to the great toe or second toe transfer, combined free transfer of the great toenail flap and second toe phalanx achieved a substantially better functional and esthetic result in the thumb reconstruction.

Reconstruction of combined thumb amputation at the metacarpal base level and index amputation at the metacarpal level with pollicization and bilateral double toe composite transfer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to describe the technique and report our experience with the reconstruction of combined proximal thumb amputations at the metacarpal base level and index finger amputation at the metacarpal level with pollicization and bilateral double toe composite transfer.

METHODS

The technique consists of pollicization of the remnant index ray. Then a contralateral composite medial great toe pulp and vascularized second toe proximal interphalangeal joint flap are harvested to reconstruct the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Subsequently, an ipsilateral composite great toe wrap-around and second toe proximal interphalangeal joint flap are harvested to reconstruct the thumb interphalangeal joint and the distal thumb. A neurotized superthin anterolateral thigh flap is used to reconstruct the ipsilateral toe defect, while the bone defects of the bilateral second toes are reconstructed with corticocancellous iliac crest bone grafts. Between 2010 and 2014, eight patients underwent reconstruction. Four patients could be recalled for follow-up, with a mean duration of 22 months.

RESULTS

All flaps survived. The contour and length of the reconstructed thumbs was similar to the contralateral one. The mean Michigan hand outcomes questionnaire score was 80.5. The mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score was 7.5. The mean foot and ankle disability index score was 94.2.

CONCLUSIONS

Reconstruction of thumb amputations at the metacarpal base level with pollicization and double toe composite transfer results in excellent contour and functional outcome, with a natural-appearing thumb. In addition, all toes are preserved.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, Level IV.