Single-stage repair of complex scalp and cranial defects with the free radial forearm flap.
The free radial forearm flap provides a reliable single-stage method to cover difficult scalp and forehead defects where other local methods are unsuitable. Six patients have been successfully reconstructed utilizing seven free radial forearm flaps. A description of our surgical technique along with illustrative cases demonstrate the indications and advantages of this flap. Cranial soft-tissue deficits are primarily cutaneous; therefore, a more predictable reconstruction can be obtained utilizing a cutaneous flap with similar characteristics. Restoration of bony defects should be considered separately utilizing autogenous bone and/or alloplastic materials and not merely obliterated with a bulky soft-tissue flap. Therefore, if the local factors of a cranial wound require the utilization of a distant tissue transfer, we prefer the thin coverage of a well-vascularized free fasciocutaneous radial forearm flap over two-stage distant pedicle flaps or skin-grafted free flaps.
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps