Premium
The neurofasciocutaneous radial forearm flap in head and neck reconstruction: A preliminary report
Author(s) -
Urken Mark L.,
Weinberg Hubert,
Vickery Carlin,
Biller Hugh F.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199002000-00011
Subject(s) - medicine , forearm , anatomy , head and neck , bridge (graph theory) , radial nerve , cutaneous nerve , surgery , facial nerve
The radial forearm free flap has achieved considerable popularity as a reconstructive technique due to its thin, pliable tissue and long vascular pedicle. The successful use of this flap as a carrier of a vascularized nerve to bridge motor nerve gaps and as a sensate flap has not been previously reported in head and neck reconstruction. The superficial branch of the radial nerve was used as a vascularized nerve graft to bridge a facial nerve defect following radical parotidectomy. The medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerves were used to re‐establish sensation in a reconstructed pharyngeal mucosal defect. The published clinical and experimental studies on vascularized nerves and sen‐sate flaps are reviewed in detail.