Egemen AYHAN, Kadir ÇEVİK, Velat ÇELİK, Metin Manuçehr ESKANDARİ

Patient satisfaction after innervated digital artery perforator flap for fingertip injuries

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the innervated digital artery perforator (IDAP) flap and toanalyze the relationship between patient satisfaction and outcome measures.Methods: A total of 17 fingertips of 15 patients (14 men and one woman; mean age: 47.2 (26-62) years) were included inthis retrospective study. Patients’ injured finger and defect type were recorded. At the last follow-up, the static two-pointdiscrimination (s2PD) test, Semmes Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test, and range of motion of the affected finger wereanalyzed. We interviewed patients to determine hand dominance, cold intolerance, and their satisfaction with the result. Weperformed correlation and logistic regression analyses between patient satisfaction and outcome measures.Results: The mean follow-up period was 13.8 (7-18) months. The mean range of motion was 77.3±3.5 (70-80) degrees forthe distal interphalangeal joints of affected fingers. The mean s2PD was 6.4 (3-10) mm, and the SWM records ranged from2.83 to 4.93 monofilament markings. Cold intolerance was noted in seven fingers (41%). Patient satisfaction was negativelycorrelated with cold intolerance, and cold intolerance decreased as the follow-up period extended.Conclusion: IDAP flap satisfies both patient and surgeon, with the only significant problem being cold intolerance, regardingwhich patients must be informed. Although cold intolerance is hard to treat, fortunately, it generally improves with time.

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