Open AccessThe use of the Radial Styloid in the Extended Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flap
Author(s) -
Jennifer Matthews,
Wendy K. Y. Ng,
Stuart Archibald,
Carolyn Lévis
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plastic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2292-5511
pISSN - 2292-5503
DOI - 10.4172/plastic-surgery.1000967
Subject(s) - medicine , osteoradionecrosis , surgery , nonunion , head and neck , osteotomy , mandible (arthropod mouthpart) , maxilla , forearm , dentistry , radiation therapy , botany , biology , genus
The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OC-RFFF) remains a useful tool in head and neck reconstruction; however, it can be challenging to harvest sufficient bone for large reconstructions. The extended OC-RFFF is a modification that involves harvest of the distal border of the radius to the tip of the styloid. This increases the length of the bone flap by 2 cm to 3 cm, and the inherent contour of the styloid can be used to reconstruct the anterior curvature of the mandible or maxilla without additional osteotomies that may reduce blood supply.