Chimeric Medial Femoral Condyle Osteocutaneous Flap for Reconstruction of Multiple Metacarpal Defects

Abstract

When faced with reconstructing metacarpal defects, various options have been described. We describe a chimeric medial femoral condyle osteocutaneous flap as a new method for providing multiple bone grafts as well as soft tissue coverage in a single stage. The medial femoral condyle has become an area of increased interest given the versatility it allows in harvesting the bone. This osteocutaneous flap is useful when reconstructing small- to medium-sized adjacent metacarpal bone defects. The chimeric design of the flap lends flexibility at the time of inset that is absent for other options of vascularized bone grafts. The ease of harvest, straightforward anatomy, flexibility at inset, and limited donor site morbidity make this flap an effective option when treating such injuries.

Keywords: Chimeric flap; medial femoral condyle; metacarpal reconstruction.