[Use of a bilobed flap for the treatment of mucous cysts]

The Zitelli Bilobed Flap on Skin Coverage After Mucous Cyst Excision: A Retrospective Cohort of 33 Cases

PURPOSE

To study the time to wound healing and recurrence rate achieved in the treatment of distal interphalangeal joint mucous cysts using the Zitelli modified bilobed flap.

METHODS

We surgically treated 33 patients from January 2006 to June 2015. We assessed demographic data, comorbidities, location and size of the cyst, time to wound healing, and complications.

RESULTS

The most affected finger was the right middle finger. All flaps survived and wounds healed in 14 days on average. The mucous cyst recurred in 1 of 33 cases. There were no major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The Zitelli bilobed flap can provide good-quality skin coverage over the distal interphalangeal joint in a short period.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

The Zitelli design for bilobed flap applied on skin defects after digital mucous cyst excision. A review of 9 cases

Mucous cysts do not always require treatment. Nevertheless, patients often ask for excision because of pain or esthetics. Flap coverage is usually a concomitant procedure, which improves the quality of the skin overlying the distal interphalangeal joint. We propose the Zimany bilobed flap in this indication, and particularly its newer geometric design developed by Zitelli. We report the use of this flap in 9 cysts. Wound healing was fast with a good outcome. This flap design is an easy, safe procedure, and the Zitelli geometric design is a clear improvement for the reproducibility and learning curve.