A rare variant of the radial artery: clinical considerations in raising a radial forearm flap.
A rare vascular anomaly of the radial artery encountered during elevation of a radial forearm free flap is reported in this paper. We discovered a superficial radial artery which bifurcated from the deep radial artery 4 cm below the antecubital fossa. The blood supply to the proximal radial forearm flap was thought to be from the superficial radial artery, and to the distal forearm flap from both arteries. Ascertaining the course of the radial artery pre- and intraoperatively and careful dissection of the artery are essential to minimise problems of flap transfer.
Sasaki
K
K
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Tokyo, Japan.
Nozaki
M
M
Aiba
H
H
Isono
N
N
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D010611:Pharyngectomy / Q000379:methods; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*