title: [Use of an external brachial flap in the reconstruction of the upper limb. Apropos of 11 cases].
abstract: During the last three years, eleven lateral upper arm flaps were used in the reconstruction of skin defects of the upper limb. These flaps were applied: 7 times on the hand; 2 times on the fore-arm; 2 times on the elbow. Ten flaps had a free transfer, one was vascularised by the distal pedicle. In 4 cases we used an emergency free transfer in the treatment of a traumatic defect. In the other cases the flaps were used in the treatment of post-traumatic sequelae such as contracture and/or osteitis. The series contains 10 fascio-cutaneous flaps and 1 osteo-cutaneous flap. We had one failure with an emergency free flap, salvaged without further sequelae by means of a groin flap. The proximity of the donor site in an upper limb reconstruction makes the lateral upper arm flap a good alternative when a pedicle locoregional flap cannot be used due to a lesion of its pedicle in the mechanism of the trauma.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Plastique, Hôpital Boucicaut, Paris.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Auclair
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guelmi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selinger
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mitz
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lemerle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000672:Amputation Stumps; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology