Donor site morbidity of free ulnar forearm flap†
Corresponding Author
Swee T. Tan MBBS, FRACS, PhD
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorDylan W. James MBBS
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorZachary Moaveni MBChB, FRACS
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Swee T. Tan MBBS, FRACS, PhD
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this authorDylan W. James MBBS
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorZachary Moaveni MBChB, FRACS
Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial and Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorParts of this paper were presented at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Annual Scientific Congress, Sydney, Australia, May 15–19, 2006.
Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the donor site morbidity of the free ulnar forearm flap (UFF).
Methods
Consecutive patients undergoing free UFF between 1982 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. In addition, detailed assessment of hand function and donor site cosmesis was performed in the most recent 50 patients followed up for at least 12 months.
Results
In all, 62 of the 242 free UFF donor sites (26%) were closed directly and the remainder required split thickness skin grafting. Donor site complications included total (n = 1) and partial (n = 17) skin graft loss and persistent hypertrophic scarring (n = 4). There was minimal incidence of cold intolerance, parasthesia, and pain; no reduction in joint mobility, grip and pinch strength, and sensory dysfunction, with excellent donor site cosmesis.
Conclusions
UFF has several advantages, including the possibility of direct closure of the donor defect, and reduced morbidity and excellent donor site cosmesis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011
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