title: [Raising a radial flap with primary wound closure by prefabrication of split skin fascia flaps].
abstract: A disadvantage of the radial forearm flap is the removal of skin from a functionally important and aesthetically exposed region. To minimize the donor site morbidity with this flap, we have thus far used a two-phase procedure for intraoral defect coverage in 15 patients: In a first step, a 0.5-mm split thickness skin graft is transplanted to the forearm fascia and settles there over a period of 2 weeks. In step two, the prefabricated fascial-split thickness skin graft can be raised with complete preservation of the forearm skin and microsurgically transferred like a conventional radial forearm flap. We have obtained the following results with this procedure: (1) All skin grafts took completely on the forearm fascia. (2) Prefabricated fascial-split thickness skin flaps could be raised like conventional radial forearm flaps. (3) The very thin and moldable flaps were excellently suited for intraoral lining and showed complication-free healing. We conclude that tension-free, primary closure of the donor site can be achieved with minimal aesthetic and functional impairment.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Berlin.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ervens
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmeister
mesh_terms: D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology