Oblique radial forearm reverse-flow flap

A modifed design for the distally-based radial forearm flap is presented, in an oblique direction rather than longitudinally, based on the existence of skin laxity in the proximal forearm region. The skin paddle of the flap is designed in an oblique fashion pedicled on one of the proximal-row septocutaneous perforators, and elevated in the usual manner supplied by the distal radial artery. The oblique radial forearm flap thus created was successfully utilized for reconstruction of seven dorsal hand defects. Results showed that all the flaps could easily be transposed to the defect through a wide arc of rotation and all survived totally, with direct closure of the donor site in five cases, and significant reduction in size in the remaining two cases. It was concluded that the oblique design for the skin island of the reverse radial forearm flap could allow creation of a flap that has a smaller donor defect and yet presents a longer pedicle length, with a wider arc of rotation and better adaptation to a dorsal hand defect, than a conventional longitudinal-design radial forearm flap.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

血管变异型前臂背侧皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损

目的 探讨骨间后动脉血管变异时前臂背侧皮瓣的切取方法.方法 以骨间后动脉为蒂逆行岛状皮瓣转移修复手部皮肤软组织缺损时,遇到血管变异共9例,采取以骨间后动脉桡侧支为蒂切取逆行岛状前臂背侧皮瓣、以骨间后动脉近端为蒂切取游离骨间后动脉皮瓣、以骨间后动脉穿支为蒂切取游离前臂背侧穿支皮瓣等方法,进行皮瓣转移或移植修复手部创面.结果 9例皮瓣中有8例顺利存活;1例术后2 d皮瓣远端出现肿胀、青紫、小水泡,及时对症处理,5 d后部分皮缘形成干痂,皮瓣颜色恢复正常,脱痂后存活.9例随访3个月至2年,皮瓣质地柔软,弹性好,外形满意.结论 以桡骨间后动脉侧支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣逆行转移,以骨间后动脉近端或骨间后动脉穿支为蒂的前臂背侧皮瓣游离移植修复手部创面,是解决骨间后动脉血管变异较理想的方法.     

Fascial flaps based on perforators for reconstruction of defects in the distal forearm.

Twenty fascial flaps were used in the reconstruction of defects in the distal forearm, wrist and hand in 18 patients over a 2-year period. In 16 patients the fascial flaps were based on a single fascial feeding vessel or 'perforator' arising from the anterior interosseous artery and/or ulnar artery when the radial artery had been used as the donor vessel in free flap reconstruction elsewhere in the body. There was no loss of any fascial flap in the study. The use of fascial flaps based on fascial feeders of the anterior interosseous and ulnar arteries extends the range of fascial flaps that can be raised in the forearm for reconstruction of defects in the distal forearm, wrist and hand.     

Experiences with an arterialized venous flap for intraoral defect reconstruction

This clinical investigation should try out the suitability of arterialized venous forearm flaps for immediate reconstruction of intraoral defects after excision of an oral squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast to the free radial forearm flap there is no need for either sacrificing a peripheral artery or jeopardizing motor nerves. As the exact function of arterialized venous flaps is still unknown we had to take into account the possible loss of the flap. Therefore we used this flap in patients with small or medium sized defects only. All skin fat flaps were raised out of the right forearm using two different flap types. In 34 patient we used a flap with a superficial vein passing through (type I), in 5 patients we took a flap with two parallel proximal veins (type II). After the flap had been sutured into the intraoral defect, in flap type I the original distal end of the vein was anastomosed to an artery and the original proximal end to a vein. In flap type II there was no specific differentiation between the veins both. 18 (46.2%) of the flaps survived completely, 9 (23%) had superficial epithelial loss or some marginal necrosis and 12 (30.8%) became completely necrotic. Areas of partial loss developed slowly and formed stable granulation tissue. The flap donor sites were either closed primarily (n = 19) or were covered with split thickness skin graft (n = 20). There were no functional problems of the donor forearms. These results contrast with the high success rates achieved with orthodox free forearm flaps. Further research into venous flaps is essential.     

Direct closure of radial forearm free-flap donor sites by double-opposing rhomboid transposition flaps: case report

A basic disadvantage of the radial forearm flap is the removal of skin from a functionally important and cosmetically exposed region. The donor site is conventionally repaired by skin grafting. However, this method is associated with complications of graft take and a poor aesthetic appearance. In this report, the authors describe a simple technique for direct closure of a distal forearm flap donor defect, using double-opposing rhomboid transposition flaps. This method is based on the existence of an oblique skin laxity in the distal forearm from the ulnar to the radial side, allowing a double-opposing local flap design. In a 32-year-old female patient, a 6- X 4-cm longitudinally-oriented elliptical skin defect of a radial forearm free flap was succesfully closed directly with the described technique without any complications. This method is a useful alternative for primary closure of small- to medium-sized distal forearm defects.     

Shape-modified method using the radial forearm perforator flap for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the scalp

The authors present their clinical experience in reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the scalp in 17 patients, using free radial forearm perforator flaps. These defects, as a rule, have a circular or elliptical shape. In order to fit this shape of the defect, they divided the radial forearm perforator flap into two or three components in each case. The donor site, in most cases, was closed primarily by cosmetic sutures. As a shape-modified method using the radial forearm perforator flap, the main point is that the shape of the flap should be an ellipse. The width of the flap should be no more than 5 cm in its proximal part, 4 cm in its middle part, and 3 cm in its distal part. All patients had complete survival of the transplanted radial forearm perforator flap with good aesthetic results.     

Reverse Radial Forearm Fascial Flap With Radial Artery Preservation

The reverse radial forearm fascial (RRFF) flap is widely used in soft-tissue reconstruction of the hand. The traditional RRFF flap incorporates the radial artery from the forearm and is perfused by retrograde flow through the palmar arch. In patients with an abnormal Allen test because of an incomplete palmar arch, the traditional RRFF flap is contraindicated unless a vein graft is used to reconstruct the radial artery. A simpler alternative approach for hand reconstruction in such patients is a distally based RRFF flap based on radial artery perforators, which preserves the radial artery. We used RRFF flaps based on radial artery perforators in five patients who had palmar or dorsal soft-tissue loss. All five recovered full hand function, and only one had any complications (full-thickness skin graft loss at recipient site). The RRFF flap based on distal radial artery perforators is suitable for thin coverage of soft-tissue defects in hands with either a complete or an incomplete palmar arch.     

Comparison of anterolateral thigh and radial forearm free flap donor site morbidity

This study evaluated patient-reported outcome of the donor site in patients following head and neck cancer reconstruction. Patients who had undergone cancer reconstruction using either an anterolateral thigh or a radial forearm free flap and who were at least 6 months postsurgery were included and contacted by telephone. There were 37 patients (mean age 61 years, standard deviation 16 years) with 18 anterolateral thigh flaps and 19 radial forearm flaps. The majority of patients were not bothered by scar appearance, light touch, numbness or pain. Significantly more females (P = 0.038) and more patients with radial forearm flaps (P = 0.045) were bothered by the cold at the donor site and more females reported that the shape of the operated extremity was different (P = 0.009). Donor site morbidity is not significant following a radial forearm or anterolateral thigh free flap and the reconstruction should be based upon individual patient factors and surgeon expertise.     

Laser Doppler perfusion imaging of the radial forearm flap: a clinical study.

Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) allows non-invasive assessment of blood flow in a predefined area of skin rather than at one single point. We have used LDPI to study the pattern of skin blood flow in the radial forearm flap before and after the flap has been raised. The data were collected from a consecutive series of 11 patients with cancer of the oral cavity or oropharynx in whom the radial forearm flap had been used during the reconstructive procedure. Reperfusion leads to an immediate hyperaemic response both in the flap and the surrounding skin. This hyperaemia remains for at least the first 30 minutes after reperfusion. The perfusion of the radial side of the forearm skin distal to the flap is significantly lower than that on the ulnar side after the skin island has been raised and the distal artery divided. We suggest that LDPI is useful for monitoring the perfusion of free skin flaps.     

The versatile uses of the posterior interosseous forearm flap

Sixteen patients with a posterior interosseous artery (PIA) forearm flap are presented. Fourteen distally based fasciocutaneous PIA island flaps, one distally based PIA fascial flap and one PIA free flap have been performed to cover defects of the dorsum of the hand (10), first web space (5) and lower leg (1). The size of the island flaps ranged from 3 to 5 cm in width and 6 to 13 cm in length. The maximum size of skin island was 13×4 cm. The area of reach for the distally based PIA flap was the MP joint. Venous congestion with partial flap loss was seen in two cases, radial nerve palsy with an incomplete extension of the fourth and fifth finger in one case. The donor site was closed primarily most times. In the majority of cases the scarring at the donor site was inconspicuous. There was practically no functional loss. The flaps contoured well to the recipient site and had good texture and color match. Received: 19 February 1998 / Accepted: 3 May 1999