title: Treatment of Wound Healing Disorders of Radial Forearm Free Flap Donor Sites Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma: A Proof of Concept.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment of wound healing disturbances of the radial forearm free flap donor site after reconstructive surgery is typically long and burdensome and often requires additional surgery. Cold atmospheric plasma is a promising approach to overcome these impairments. The aim of this proof of concept study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of plasma irradiation in patients with wound healing disorders with exposed brachial tendons of the radial forearm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients (mean age 64.2 years, range 44 to 80) who had undergone radial forearm free flap procedures and developed wound healing disturbance leading to exposed flexor tendons were included in the present prospective case series. In addition to routine wound care, all sites were irradiated with cold atmospheric plasma. The primary outcome variable was complete wound closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients, complete wound repair in terms of the absence of tendon exposure was observed within a mean treatment time of 10.1 weeks (range 4.9 to 16). No undesirable side effects were observed, and no inflammation or infection occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cold atmospheric plasma could offer a reliable conservative treatment option for complicated wound healing disturbances. This was exemplarily shown in the case of radial forearm free flap donor site morbidity with exposed flexor tendons in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Clinical Navigation, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: stefan.hartwig@charite.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Clinical Navigation, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Clinical Navigation, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan Oliver
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.affiliation: Fellow, Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Radiology and Oral Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.affiliation: Fellow, Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Preissner
authors.affiliation: Department Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Clinical Navigation, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan Dirk
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Raguse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases