- 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
The Addition o 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.