Proximal forearm flap based on a septocutaneous vessel from the radial artery.
BACKGROUND
The radial forearm flap has been a workhorse flap for soft-tissue or coverage reconstruction in the head and neck area. Although it has several major advantages, it requires sacrifice of the radial artery. In this article, the authors present their modification of harvesting a forearm flap based on a large septocutaneous branch of the radial artery in the proximal forearm with or without sacrificing the main radial artery. They name it the proximal radial forearm flap.


METHODS
From September of 2003 to March of 2004, a total of 14 free proximal radial forearm flaps were used for head and neck reconstruction in 12 patients. There was one female patient and 11 male patients. Their ages ranged from 32 to 85 years. The skin flap size ranged from 2.0 x 6.0 cm to 4.5 x 18 cm.


RESULTS
All free proximal radial forearm flap reconstructions had immediate success. There were one delayed flap loss caused by wound infection and one death attributable to advanced medical disease. Six flaps were harvested with preservation of the radial artery trunk. Six of the eight radial arteries that were killed during flap harvest were repaired with a short segment (3 to 4 cm) of vein graft. The average diameter and length of the septocutaneous vessel of the proximal radial forearm flap was 0.73 mm and 3.3 cm, respectively. Two flaps were harvested in conjunction with the conventional free radial forearm flaps. Nine donor sites were closed primarily and five donor sites required skin grafts.


CONCLUSIONS
The proximal radial forearm flap can be used successfully in head and neck reconstruction with the advantages of moving the donor site to the proximal forearm for better scar concealment and possible preservation of the radial artery trunk. The disadvantages of this flap are short pedicle length and small pedicle diameter when the radial artery is to be preserved.
Lin
Jeng-Yee
JY
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Cheng
Ming-Huei
MH
Wei
Fu-Chan
FC
Song
Dennis
D
Huang
Wei-Chao
WC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*