Archives of Craniofacial Surgery (대한두개안면성형외과학회지)

Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (대한두개안면성형외과학회)
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Unusual anomaly of the radial artery encountered during the elevation of a radial forearm free flap: a case report

  • Jin Myung Yoon (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Tae Jun Park (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Sae Hwi Ki (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Min Ki Hong (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital)
  • Received : 2022.11.15
  • Accepted : 2023.02.20
  • Published : 2023.02.20
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Abstract

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has become popular for head and neck reconstructions. Owing to a constant anatomy the RFFF is relatively easy to dissect. Nevertheless, anatomical variations of the radial artery have been reported. Some variations could affect the survival of the flap. This paper reports an unusual anomaly of the radial artery where the radial artery was not located between the brachioradialis (BR) and flexor carpi radialis. The radial artery was observed above the BR and on the radial side of the BR. The survival of the elevated flap was deemed questionable because it had only few perforators. So we decided to discard the flap and to elevate another free flap for the head and neck defect. The donor area on the forearm was covered using the original skin of the first flap as a full-thickness skin graft. This case highlights a means to deal with anomalies of the radial artery encountered during the elevation of RFFF and the checking process for variations of the radial artery before RFFF.

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References

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