Search

A free hair-bearing occipital scalp flap was employed for reconstruction of the upper lip in a young man who had sustained a close range shotgun blast to the face. The "moustache" free-flap provides an abundant source of hair-bearing scalp which has certain advantages over conventional techniques of repair. It is a one-stage operation, involves minimal donor site morbidity and uses hair-bearing scalp which is not usually affected by male-pattern baldness.

Nineteen patients who had ray transposition for central digital loss were evaluated retrospectively with regard to postoperative function and appearance. Pinch and grip recoveries were better in patients with small-to-ring finger transfers than in those with index-to-long finger transfers. Total average pinch recovery measured 83.3% of the nonoperated side. Total grip recovery was 80.2% of the nonoperated side. Average ranges of motion for all transferred digits were 77.6 degrees (metacarpophalangeal joint), 87.6 degrees (proximal interphalangeal joint), and 80.8 degrees (distal interphalangeal joint). Overall results judged by a five-component assessment scale were excellent.