title: Donor-site morbidity of the radial forearm free flap versus the ulnar forearm free flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Donor-site morbidity following harvest of the radial forearm free flap was compared with that following harvest of the ulnar forearm free flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight radial forearm and 27 ulnar forearm flaps were harvested in 55 patients with head and neck defects. Pressure perception was measured with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Cold perception was tested with chloroethyl. Donor-site healing was evaluated. Patients were interviewed about grip and pinch strength and donor-site appearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the radial forearm free flap group, pressure perception and cold perception were reduced in the donor hand, whereas in the ulnar group, no differences were observed between the donor and unoperated hands. In the radial forearm group, 15 percent of patients experienced reduced strength in the donor hand, whereas in the ulnar forearm group, none of the patients reported reduced strength in the donor hand. In the radial forearm group, 14 percent had partial or complete loss of the skin graft, whereas in the ulnar forearm group, 4 percent had partial loss of the skin graft. In the radial forearm group, 18 percent of patients were dissatisfied with the appearance of the donor site, and no complaints were reported in the ulnar forearm group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' study shows less donor site-morbidity following harvest of the ulnar forearm free flap than following harvest of the radial forearm free flap. These results emphasize that the ulnar forearm free flap should be considered as an alternative for the radial forearm free flap for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, III.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht, The Netherlands From the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Dominique D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Hekner
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Abbink
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Es
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koole
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Van Cann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011884:Radius / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014457:Ulna / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology