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- Title
Novel technique for the direct closure of the radial forearm flap donor site defect with a local bilobed flap.
- Authors
Mashrah, Mubarak Ahmed; Lingjian, Yan; Handley, Thomas Peter; Pan, Chaobin; Weiliang, Chen
- Abstract
Background: The donor site defect remains the major disadvantage of the radial forearm free flap (RFFF). The purpose of this case series was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a local bilobed flap in direct closure of the RFFF donor site defect. Methods: Between February 2017 and July 2017, a prospective study was designed with 13 patients who had undergone RFFF reconstruction of the oral cavity. The primary purpose was to assess the effectiveness and safety of a bilobed flap closure of the RFFF donor site with primary healing. The late endpoint was to evaluate functional morbidity of the donor hand by comparing preoperative and postoperative outcomes. Results: The donor site defect healed primarily in 12 of the 13 patients. A small area of skin necrosis (4%) developed in one patient, which was managed conservatively and healed by secondary intention. A significant reduction of wrist extension (mean difference [MD] = 2.64°, P = .01) and grip strength (MD = 3.68 kg, P = .04) was observed between preoperative and postoperative measurements. No statistically significant difference was observed regarding flexion, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, supination, pronation and pinch strength (P > .05). Conclusions: The bilobed flap is a reliable and effective method for closure of a RFFF donor site defect, ≤5 cm in greatest length. The advantages are excellent regional skin color match and avoidance of a second donor site and its inherent complications.
- Subjects
FOREARM; FREE flaps; GRIP strength; HUMAN skin color; HEALING; SKIN grafting
- Publication
Head & Neck, 2019, Vol 41, Issue 9, p3282
- ISSN
1043-3074
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/hed.25839