Abstract
The radial artery is located in the lateral intermuscular septum which separates the flexor and extensor compartments of the forearm. Its superior half runs deep between the brachioradialis muscle and rotundum pronator muscle and its lower half between the tendons of brachioradialis and flexor radial carpalis. Along its course, the radial artery gives rise to 9–17 septocutaneous branches to supply the overlying fascia and skin. All these ramifications, with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, form a rich network of vascularization in subcutaneous layers, along with the fasciocutaneous ramifications of the ulnar, brachial, and interosseous arteries. Radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is one of the most common flaps used in head and neck reconstruction. In this chapter, neurovascular anatomy and harvesting surgical technique of the RFFF are described. Moreover, analitycal factors and technical considerations about RFFF are deeply discussed.
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Pellini, R., Ghirelli, M., Ferreli, F., Pichi, B., Mercante, G., Molteni, G. (2020). Radial Forearm Flap. In: Pellini, R., Molteni, G. (eds) Free Flaps in Head and Neck Reconstruction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29582-0_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29582-0_5
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