title: Upper extremity morbidity after radial forearm flap harvest: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of radial forearm free (RFF) flap harvest on patient-reported postoperative upper extremity disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing RFF flap reconstruction following resection of head and neck cancer were recruited and matched with similar patients undergoing non-RFF reconstruction. All subjects completed the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire preoperatively and at least 1 year postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative DASH scores were significantly higher (more severe disability) in patients undergoing RFF flap reconstruction (6.93 ± 5.54; n = 52) compared with those undergoing non-RFF flap surgeries (2.95 ± 4.42; n = 52). Preoperative DASH score, flap size, patient age and tumour stage were significantly correlated with postoperative DASH score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excluding the effect of neck dissection, RFF flap reconstruction has a significant deleterious effect on upper extremity function.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning, China.
authors: Qi-Gen
authors: QG
authors: Fang
authors: Shuang
authors: S
authors: Shi
authors: Xu
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Zhen-Ning
authors: ZN
authors: Li
authors: Fa-Yu
authors: FY
authors: Liu
authors: Chang-Fu
authors: CF
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Radial forearm free flap; neck dissection; questionnaire; upper extremity function