title: A novel technique for the prophylactic plating of the osteocutaneous radial forearm flap donor site.
abstract: The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (ORFFF) provides a suitable composite construct for reconstruction of head and neck defects. Initial acceptance of the ORFFF during the 1980s waned significantly as long-term outcome studies demonstrated a high incidence of donor-site fractures associated with harvesting a segment of the cortical radius. Biomechanical and clinical studies have demonstrated a significant improvement in the mechanical strength of ostectomized long bones after prophylactic plating. Our case report identifies a novel technique for rigid fixation using a low-contact, locking-screw plating system (LCP, Synthes USA). The system provides a fixed-angle construct using a locking-screw system that provides appropriate axial load transfer using unicortical screw fixation.
authors.affiliation: Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery Institute, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Raffy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karamanoukian
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Gregory R D
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005542:Forearm; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011884:Radius / Q000637:transplantation*; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects