The modified V-Y dorsal metacarpal flap for repair of syndactyly without skin graft

Background: Syndactyly repairs that use full-thickness skin grafts risk graft-related complications. The dorsal V-Y advancement flap offers a method of syndactyly release that can eliminate the need for full-thickness skin grafts in some cases of simple syndactyly. Methods: A retrospective case series of all patients undergoing syndactyly release without skin grafting performed by the senior author (B.C.) between 1998 and 2007 was conducted. All outpatient and inpatient charts were reviewed for pertinent patient demographics and clinical outcomes, including the incidence of web creep, hypertrophic scarring, flexion contracture, infection, angulation deformity, limited range of motion, ischemia, and need for reoperation. Results: A total of 28 syndactylies were included in the study: 25 simple incomplete and three simple complete. Mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. Mean operative time was 68 minutes. Two patients (7.1 percent) experienced postoperative complications; both were corrected by subsequent revision. Conclusion: The dorsal V-Y advancement flap without skin graft is an effective method of repair primarily in simple incomplete syndactyly.