The Forearm Radial Arterial Turnover Flap and its Clinical Application

Abstract

The free forearm flap technique with its anatomic basis and clinical applications was reported by Yang Guo-fan et al.¹. Drawing inspiration from this type of free flap, we developed a forearm radial arterial turnover flap to repair acute hand injuries and late deformities (including burn deformities) in 1980. The shape and size of the flap are designed according to the defect of the wound. The flap is reversibly placed on the radial side of the midpart of the forearm with a narrow skin pedicle on the distal end which is along and including the course of the radial artery. The blood supply of the flap is from the ulnar artery through the palmal arch reversibly. The venous return is by way of three channels: (1) the accompanying radial vein and its collaterals, (2) the small venule in the skin pedicle and (3) one or two veins of the flap anastomosed to the recipient site. The width of the pedicle is about 1.5 cm. It does not matter what the length is, and it would not do any harm to the flap if its size extended even to the length of half of the upper forearm.