Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the hand using the shape-modified radial forearm flap.

We have reconstructed soft tissue defects in 121 hands with radial forearm flaps. So that the flap perfectly fitted the defect, and to minimise the size of the donor site, we divided the flap into two or three components in each case. We call this the shape-modified radial forearm flap. Of the 118 patients, 113 had complete survival of the flap. The follow-up time was 1 to 15 years. The donor sites were closed primarily in all patients, giving good aesthetic results. The shape-modified radial forearm flap seems to be reliable, and makes it possible to adjust the flap according to the defect. The donor area can be closed primarily in all cases.     

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.