Clinical Example: Syndactyly release incision planning potential pitfall

There are many incision and flap designs for syndactyly release. Common patterns  involve a proximal flap to surface the web space and paired zig zag dorsal and palmar flaps which interdigitate on the same digit.  A potential pitfall is that the surgeon planning the flaps can not see both sides of the finger at the same time, and it is possible to plan flaps which are reversed and exactly the opposite of what was intended.  The simple way to check and prevent this possible error for zig zag flap designs is that the zigs and zags should look the same, not reversed when the hand is flipped palmar and dorsal. This is an example.
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The initial palmar flap was planned, recognised as reversed, removed with alcohol and revised. The incorrect design is visible as a faded mark.
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