title: Improvement of the radial forearm donor site by compression with hydrocolloid dressing and adhesive sponge.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  With our method, general improvement is obtained as compared with traditional split-thickness skin grafting of the radial forearm flap donor site. As our method is simple and easy, the same results can be obtained wherever and by whomever it is performed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The radial forearm flap is associated with complications of graft take and a poor aesthetic appearance despite its usefulness in reconstructing the oral cavity and oropharynx. We describe a simple technique for improvement of the radial forearm donor site.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 12 patients who underwent reconstruction with radial forearm free flaps following resection of oral or oropharyngeal tumors. We covered the donor site defect using traditional split-thickness skin grafts and performed aftercare with a hydrocolloid dressing and an adhesive sponge to retain moisture and apply compression. After the treatment series, color matching, texture matching, depressive deformity, and hypertrophic scar were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of comprehensive evaluation of the two patients with premature discontinuation of compression were good. One patient was assigned only 1 point for hypertrophic scar, and another only 1 point for color match. The evaluation of the other 10 patients was excellent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. motomura@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motomura
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Teruichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Michinari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muraoka
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusuki
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome