Radial forearm free flap donor site outcomes comparison by closure methods.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the functional and aesthetic outcomes of radial forearm free flap (RFFF) donor sites reconstructed with full-thickness skin graft (FTSG), split thickness skin graft (STSG) alone, and STSG overlying an acellular dermal matrix (AlloDerm).


METHODS
A cross-sectional cohort study at a tertiary care hospital.


RESULTS
Twenty-five head and neck cancer patients who underwent reconstruction with RFFF completed the evaluations (STSG = 10, FTSG = 8, STSG with AlloDerm = 7). Subjective evaluations of postoperative function by questionnaires showed no significant differences among the 3 groups (P = 0.93). In blinded evaluations by surgeons, the STSG group obtained the highest aesthetic outcome score (3.39 of 5.0), followed by FTSG (2.89) and STSG with AlloDerm (2.80). However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.32). Objective measurements of postoperative function by certified occupational therapists were comparable among the 3 groups with the exception of a mildly decreased range of wrist flexion (P = 0.036) and ulnar deviation (P = 0.016) in the FTSG group.


CONCLUSIONS
The 3 methods of reconstruction have comparable postoperative functional and aesthetic outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Each of the 3 methods of reconstruction has low morbidity and satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes.
Ho
Tang
T
Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Couch
Marion
M
Carson
Kathryn
K
Schimberg
Amy
A
Manley
Karen
K
Byrne
Patrick J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014953:Wrist / Q000601:surgery; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000502:physiology
C440568:Alloderm; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; C462479:RanGAP protein, C elegans; D003094:Collagen