Refining the cross-finger flap: considerations of flap insetting, aesthetics and donor site morbidity

We described a laterally based cross-finger flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the fingers. This modification enables coverage of volar or dorsal soft tissue defects at the distal, middle or proximal phalanx. From March 2015 to January 2017, a total of 12 patients (13 fingers) underwent soft tissue reconstruction of the fingers with a laterally based cross-finger flap. The flap dimensions ranged from 13 x 7 mm to 43 x 13 mm. Eleven of the 13 flaps survived completely. The two flap failures were attributed to injuries in the donor fingers, rendering the blood supply of the flaps unreliable.