Treatment of the defect on digit and toe with modified Reading man flap

Objective To introduce the design of modified Reading man flap, and observe the clinical effect of modified flap for repairing digit and toe wounds. Methods From July 2014 to September 2017, dorsal skin defects on 37 digits and 18 toes were repaired with our modified Reading man flaps. The revised design was characterized with enlargement the major flap and extending the minor flap proximally, and all donor site defect were sutured primarily through the major flap recover the defect and the minor flap repair the subsequent donor defect. Results All the detects in 55 patients were repaired by the modified Reading man flaps with direct donor sites closure. With average of 11.5 months (9.5-25.7 months) follow-up, all flaps survived with satisfactory texture and appearance, the bulky deformity and scar contracture did not occur. Partial necrosis of tip in the minor flaps occurred in 2 toes and healed by wound dressing. The function of the toe joints was good and the walking gait was normal. Partially impaired PIP joint function with limited flexion occurred in 2 cases. Based on the TAM evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 28 digits, good in 7 digits, and the overall satisfactory rate was 94.6%. Conclusions The modified Reading man flap can get good clinical effects for treatment of the digit and toe dorsal skin defect with the advantages of simple procedure, easy transfer and direct closure of donor sites. Flaps appearance and joints function can get good result postoperatively. Key words: Surgical flap; Skin defect; Reading man flap; Donor site morbidity