Correspondence and communicationThe ulnar artery perforator based islanded V-Y flap closure of the radial forearm flap donor site
Section snippets
Methods
Consecutive patients undergoing FRFF reconstruction of the oral cavity were considered for closure of the donor site using this method. All required wide excision of the primary tumour with accompanying neck dissection and reconstruction with free tissue transfer. In view of the need for thin pliable tissue the FRFF was chosen as the flap to reconstruct the defect. The flaps in each case were measured to fit the defect as 6 cm by 4 cm or 7 cm by 5 cm.
The FRFF flap was raised in the usual manner
Results
We performed the procedure on five consecutive cases. In all cases the flap was successfully advanced to close the defect with minimal tension. In two cases the flap was 7 cm by 5 cm. In these two cases, the large medial superficial veins and medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm were divided to allow the flap to advance and permit tension-free closure, but both these cases suffered oedema for approximately 1 month postoperatively. There was no delayed healing in any case and Figure 3 shows
Discussion
The FRFF remains a popular flap for head and neck reconstruction. Its main disadvantage is in donor site morbidity, and modifications have been made in closure of the donor site to good effect.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 We present a further modification to facilitate donor site closure in the hope that donor site morbidity may be reduced still further. The advantages are with reduced tension on the wound and no dog ear on the ulnar aspect of the closure. Additionally, complete islanding of the flap on
References (7)
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The ulnar artery forearm free flap
Br J Plast Surg
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Direct closure of the radial forearm flap donor defect
Br J Plast Surg
(1988) - et al.
Suprafascial dissection of the radial forearm flap and donor site morbidity
Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg
(2001)
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2011, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic SurgeryA freestyle pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap aiding the donor-site closure of a parascapular flap
2010, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic SurgeryCitation Excerpt :The pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps have been reported to be used in the reconstruction for breast,3 axilla and upper limb defects.4 Some authors5–7 have also reported that the pedicled perforator flaps are used for the other flap donor-site closure located at different regions of the body. There are many perforating vessels of the thoracodorsal artery penetrating the latissimus dorsi muscle.
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