Table 2. Summary of different features of soft tissue reconstructive techniques of the upper extremity.

Method of reconstruction	Different characteristics of various methods of soft-tissue reconstruction
	Coverage of bare tendons, bone & joints†	Size of defect coverage	Skin quality	Sensory recovery*	Number of procedures required+	Mean duration of postoperative limb immobilization required	Level of difficulty	Donor-site deformity	Cost
Split-thickness skin graft (STSG)	No	Small to large sized defects	Average	No	Single	7-10 days	Easy to perform	Yes	$
Full thickness skin graft (FTSG)	No	Small defects	Good	No	Single	7-10 days	Easy to perform	Yes (minimal scarring)	$
Dermal Substitutes	Yes	Small to large sized defects	Good-Very good	Suboptimal recovery	One to two procedures depending on the use of a single or two-stage dermal substitute	7-21 days‡	Easy to perform. However there is a learning curve to perform satisfactorily	No	$$$$
Local Flaps	Yes	Small defects	Excellent	Yes	One or two procedures depends on type of flap used	7 days	Average difficulty	Yes (minimal scarring)	$
Pedicled and regional Flaps	Yes	Small to large sized defects	Very good	No	Two or more	21 days	Average difficulty	Yes	$$
Microvascular free flaps	Yes	Large sized defects	Very good	No	Usually single but may require revision procedures	7 days	Difficult, requires adequate expertise and training to achieve good results	Yes (muscle flaps> fasciocutaneous flaps)	$$$

^†Tendons, bones and cartilage without paratenon, periosteum and perichondrium.

^*Not including specialized sensation of the palm of the hand

⁺Not including secondary or revision surgery.

^‡Single stage dermal substitutes requires shorter period of limb immobilization.