[V-Y advancement of volar skin flap in the repair of fingertip defect and cicatricial contracture].

The traditional Kutler and Atasoy V-Y advancement flaps have minimal range of advancement, so it is not satisfactory to repair large skin defect in fingers, hence limited indications. The sensory function of the repaired fingers is impaired because of injury to sensory nerves and scar formation. Since 1985 to 1991, the V-Y advancement flap with bilateral digital arteries and nerves as the pedicle has been used for the reconstruction of 33 fingertip defects and 5 digital volar cicatricial contracture. Satisfactory results were obtained in all these cases. In this paper, the anatomical characteristics and principles of device were recommended, the advantages and key points to success were discussed.