McCormick Place, Lakeside Center
Sunday, September 25, 2005
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center
Monday, September 26, 2005
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

8255

Primary Closure of Radial Forearm Flap Donor Sites Using Rotational Flaps

Jenny Lin, MD, PhD, Michele Tardif, MD, MSc, Carlos Cordoba, MD, Andreas Nikolis, MD, MSc, Louis Guertin, MD, Patrice Tetreault, MD, and Patrick G. Harris, MD.

The radial forearm flap is a popular choice for many reconstructive purposes. However, the main criticism of this flap is the morbidity associated with the donor site. The usual requirement for skin grafting invariably results in an insensible, unpleasing scar. Skin grafting over tendons can result in exposure or adherence, and also necessitates a period of immobilization which is inconvenient and may lead to stiffness. Many suggestions have been made in an attempt to decrease the morbidity of radial forearm flaps, most involving complex planning, multiple surgeries or specialized equipment. None has been widely accepted. We have developed a simple method of closing small to medium radial forearm donor sites. This technique involves two simple measurements for designing a rotational flap, and requires no complicated pre-operative planning. We have used this technique successfully in 12 patients between March and December 2004, closing donor sites up to 60cm2 in size. The post-operative follow-up ranges from 3 to 10 months, and results demonstrate thin, supple scars, with preserved sensation of the forearm skin and full range of motion of the hand and wrist. No cases of permanent parasthesia were noted. Partial necrosis occurred in 1 case, but healed completely without further intervention. Even when the deficit is too large to close completely, we have been able to diminish the deficit size, requiring a smaller skin graft. We believe this is a simple, reliable method of primary closure of most radial forearm donor sites that is easy to learn and implement, and can greatly reduce donor site morbidity.