Objectives: To highlight the usefulness of reverse radial
forearm fasciocutaneous flap in covering various soft tissue
defects of hand and wrist.
Study Design: Descriptive, experimental study.
Setting: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery,
Tanta University Hospitals.
Material and Methods: A total of 15 reverse radial forearm
flaps were utilized to cover various soft tissue defects of hand
and wrist from various etiologies including road traffic accidents,
mechanical trauma, and industrial trauma and fireworks
injuries were included. Patients with segmental bone loss and
those patients having partial of complete amputation of thumb
were excluded. The age ranged from 22-43 (mean 22.5) years.
Soft tissue defects of dorsum were covered with this flap in
7 cases, 3 cases on palmer aspect and 5 cases for 1st web
space and the index finger defects each. Patients were followed
for at least three months post-operatively.
Results: We had partial loss of flap in two cases that was
managed with debridement and skin grafting. Superficial
epidermolysis was found in one case and managed conservatively.
Donor site was skin grafted in 13 cases, which was
healed uneventfully and quite acceptable to the patients in
due course of time and direct clousure in 2 cases.
Conclusion: Reverse radial artery flap has a quite long
arc of rotation, which brings it great ease to cover the soft
tissue defects of various areas of hand like palm, dorsum,
first web space.