[Antebrachial flap based on distal perforators of the radial artery: anatomic study of 10 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The radial forearm flap based on distal perforators of the radial artery is a recent flap, derived from the so-called << chinese-flap >>. The interest of this flap resides in the preservation of the main arteries of the forearm. The aim of this study was to count the distal perforators of the radial artery and to study sub-cutaneous vascular system.


METHODS
We performed 10 dissections on fresh cadavers, after selective injection of the radial artery with a solution of plasticized resin. The dissection was performed from the palmar flexor fold of the wrist up to 15 cm proximally, allowing to count all of the distal perforators.


RESULTS
We determined three different intervals, among which the one located between 2 and 6 cm from the palmar flexor fold of the wrist was the most vascularized. This interval should be considered as the rotation point of the flap.


CONCLUSIONS
This study allowed to make clear and more reliable the operative procedure to raise the flap. This procedure is easy to handle and intended to cover proximal defects of the dorsal aspect of the hand, while sparing the radial artery.
Gardet
H
H
Service de chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthétique, chirurgie de la main et microchirurgie, hôpital Pellegrin-Tondu, CHU de Bordeaux-Pellegrin, France. gardethelene@free.fr
Pinsolle
V
V
Pélissier
P
P
Casoli
V
V
Martin
D
D
D001132:Arm / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps