Color duplex imaging. Applications to upper-extremity and microvascular surgery.

Color duplex scanning is a relatively new noninvasive vascular test combining ultrasound, Doppler recording, and color. It has numerous documented applications to various other subspecialties but only recently has been used in upper-extremity and microvascular surgery. It is quite useful in evaluating masses, perfusion abnormalities, trauma, and aberrant or repaired vasculature in the upper extremity. Applications to rotational and free tissue transfers include preoperative evaluation of both the donor and recipient vessels as well as postoperative monitoring.