Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-8-16
pubmed:abstractText
The radial forearm flap, although widely used, has been criticized for the poor quality of its donor site. To investigate the causes of morbidity, 100 radial artery free-flap donor sites have been reviewed. Sixty-seven patients required skin grafting (group 1), and the remaining 33 patients were closed directly (group 2). Seventeen patients in the series had compound osteocutaneous flaps (group 3). Wound healing proved to be a significant problem in groups 1 and 3, and fracture of the radius occurred in 4 of the 17 patients in group 3 and was the most significant cause of morbidity. The radial artery was reconstructed in 12 patients, but only 6 of the arteries (50 percent) were patent at the time of review. Subjective assessment on a scale of 0 to 10 demonstrated a relatively pain-free donor site with low pain scores (2.5 of 10). The cosmetic result was acceptable in men (1.5 of 10) but was less so in women (4 of 10). Angulated fracture of the radius produced an unacceptable cosmetic result (7 of 10). In light of this experience, we no longer reconstruct the radial artery as a matter of routine. The donor defect is closed directly wherever possible using an ulnar artery-based transposition flap when required. A "boat shaped" osteotomy is used in preference to right-angled bone cuts when harvesting a segment of radius to avoid the complications and sequelae of fracture. These changes in surgical technique have improved the acceptability and minimized the problems associated with this donor site.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0032-1052
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
86
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
287-92; discussion 293-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-2-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Reducing morbidity in the radial forearm flap donor site.
pubmed:affiliation
West of Scotland Regional Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Canniesburn Hospital, Glasgow.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article