- Discussion:
- standard forearm flap is vascularized by a pedicle that consists of the radial artery and two vena
comitantes that are ligated proximally and turned distally toward the defect in the hand;
- it provides a thin, vascularized wound cover and a vascular bed for skin grafting;
- this flap requires pulsatile
ulnar artery & positive Allen test;
- donor site:
- defect is resurfaced with
split-thickness skin graft;
- to minimize donor site morbidity, the fascial component of forearm flap can be used to reconstruct hand defects;
-
split-thickness skin is placed over the flap, & donor site is closed primarily;
- disadvantages:
- donor site appearance has prevented its widespread acceptance;
-
skin graft of fascia is not as ideal as that of full-thickness skin,
-
radial artery is sacrificed, although this is not necessarily problem if
ulnar artery is intact;
*Ideas* and Innovations: The Addition Of Muscle To The Lateral Arm and Radial Forearm Flaps For Wound Coverage.
The radial forearm flap: a versatile source of composite tissue.
The radial forearm flap donor site: should we vein graft the artery
A comparative study.
Use of radial forearm flaps to treat complications of closed pilon fractures.
