A groin flap for finger reconstruction is a surgical procedure that uses healthy tissues from the groin to reconstruct a finger or hand.
The groin flap is a vascularized flap of skin and subcutaneous fat which is based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery and is a small branch of the femoral artery that runs towards the ASIS.
A plastic surgeon uses the groin flap to cover soft tissue defects in the hand like those caused by injuries, electrical burns or even amputations.
The thumb flap is often called the dorsoulnar flap although multiple types of flaps are used in reconstructing thumb defects which include dorsoradial flap and the first dorsal metacarpal artery flap.
The Dorsoulnar flap which is also known as the Brunelli flap which is raised from the thumb's dorso ulnar region and it has a similar texture and thickness to the thumb pulp and can be used to cover the nail and pulp.
The Dorsoradial flap also known as the Moschella flap is used to cover dorsoradial thumb defects.
The First dorsal metacarpal artery flap is often used to treat thumb pulp defects and can be used with nerves to restore the sensation to the thumb pulp.
The different types of groin flaps are.
Conjointed latissimus dorsi-groin flaps which comes in 4 different types which include.
Type I: Pedicled latissimus dorsi and free groin flap.
Type II: Free latissimus dorsi and pedicled groin flap.
Type III: Both pedicled flaps.
Type IV: Both free flaps.
McGregor flap.
The McGregor flap also known as the pedicled groin flap, this flap is used to reconstruct large tissue defects of the hand, wrist, and forearm.
It's a versatile flap which can be performed by less-experienced surgeons.
Tensor fascia lata, anterolateral thigh, and vertical rectus abdominis flap which are the most common flaps used for groin reconstruction.
They provide good soft tissue coverage, but they sacrifice a functioning muscle.
Island flap: Transferred under a tunnel.
Tubed pedicle flap: Transferred as a delay flap, requiring separation after 2–3 weeks.
The difference between a groin flap and a SCIP flap is an SCIP flap is a more refined version of the groin flap that only uses a single perforator branch from the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap.
A groin flap is a traditional surgical flap which utilizes the entire superficial circumflex iliac artery as it's blood supply.
The axis of the groin flap is a finger breadth below the inguinal ligament and a line drawn from the point where the superficial circumflex iliac artery originates to the anterior superior iliac spine.
The superficial circumflex iliac artery is the axial vessel which supplies the flap and it runs along your inguinal ligament, usually around 2 cm below it's margin.
A groin flap is the vascularized flap of tissue from your groin area which is used to cover soft tissue defects.
A groin flap is based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery, which is a branch of your femoral artery which provides a blood supply that is relatively constant to a large area of your groin.
This relatively constant blood supply to a large area of the groin allows for a substantial amount of tissue to be used.
Reconstructive surgeons commonly use groin flaps to cover soft tissue defects on the hand and also the distal two thirds of the forearm.
Groin flaps can also be used to treat complex soft tissue injuries of the neck and head.
There are also severe different variations of the groin flap technique which includes a sensitive variant, tubular design and flat tissue coverage.
The donor site of a groin flap can also usually be primarily closed.
The complications of groin flap include.
Undermining the wound edges in the abdomen and thigh to enable a direct skin closure can result in a loss of sensation in this region.
Also a loss of feeling in the upper lateral thigh caused by transsection of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve during dissec- tion of the groin flap is possible.
Skin grafts, in contrast to flaps, are completely removed from their blood supply, whereas flaps remain attached to a blood supply via a pedicle.
Skin grafts are less technically difficult but can be more time consuming as the procedure creates a second surgical site.
The two indications for the conjoined LD–groin flap are the need for extensive and long soft-tissue coverage or for reconstructing bone defects, restoring lymphatic system, and providing functional muscle transfer in one single flap.