Aesthetic and functional results of harvesting radial forearm flap, especially with regard to hand function

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery 2001-02, Vol.30 (1), p.42-48
• Main Authors: Toschka, Hengameh, Feifel, Hartmut, Erli, Hans-Josef, Minkenberg, Ralf, Paar, Othmar, Riediger, Dieter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cold Temperature; defects of the maxillofacial region; Dentistry; donor site morbidity; Esthetics; Finger Joint - physiopathology; Fingers - physiopathology; Follow-Up Studies; Forearm - blood supply; Forearm - surgery; Hand - physiopathology; hand function; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Oral Surgical Procedures; Patient Satisfaction; Radial Artery; radial forearm flap; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Retrospective Studies; Sensation - physiology; Skin Transplantation - methods; Skin Transplantation - pathology; Skin Transplantation - physiology; surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps - blood supply; Touch - physiology; Treatment Outcome; Wrist Joint - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1054/ijom.2000.0005

There is controversy in the literature regarding donor site morbidity following radial forearm flap harvesting. The aim of this study was to verify possible functional and aesthetic impairments at the donor site. Thirty-five patients who underwent maxillofacial reconstruction using radial forearm flap were asked to give their subjective assessment of the aesthetic outcome at the donor site and of postoperative hand function. They were also examined for trophic status; cold intolerance and tactile sensitivity of split-thickness skin graft, palm and finger pads; grip strength and finger-to-thumb pinch strength; range of movement for the wrist and finger joints; as well as functional hand testing. Slight impairments regarding hand strength and mobility were observed. However, due to their small extent they were of no clinical relevance, as shown by 85.7% of our patients displaying optimal functional hand testing values (80–100%), and 88.6% giving a positive subjective assessment (80–100%) of postoperative vs preoperative hand function. The results show that donor site morbidity following radial forearm flap harvesting is low.