Vascularized Composite Tissue Spare Part Transfer for Central Hand Defect Reconstruction: Case Report

Injuries to the hand with loss of joints, tendons, nerves, and soft tissue may require complex, innovative reconstructive techniques to achieve a favorable functional and aesthetic outcome. We present a case of a manual laborer who sustained a multifaceted injury from a metal press machine with loss of composite structures including the middle and ring finger metacarpophalangeal joints, flexor and extensor tendons, digital nerves, and dorsal/volar soft tissues. Reconstruction included using the spare parts technique for transferring his ring finger proximal interphalangeal joint as a pedicle to reconstitute the missing metacarpophalangeal joint of his middle finger. The soft tissue from the ring finger was rearranged to provide aesthetic coverage of the hand with like-to-like reconstruction of the glabrous and nonglabrous skin.