The reverse dorsal metacarpal flap: experience with 153 cases.

The authors have performed reverse dorsal metacarpal flaps in 153 cases to cover skin defects over fingers or stumps during the past 15 years. Its indications included acute and chronic skin defects over the second to fifth fingers or stumps. The coverage of the flap ranged from the base of the fingers to the distal interphalangeal joint. One hundred forty-three cases survived uneventfully, and 8 cases presented venous congestion postoperatively, which led to epidermal necrosis. The reverse dorsal metacarpal flap is a reliable and excellent method to cover skin defects over the fingers.