[Evaluation of donor site morbidity after radial flap harvesting]

Donor sites of 58 radial forearm flaps in 56 patients were analysed and evaluated on the basis of documentation and follow-up examination. In 2 patients 2 radial flaps were harvested. There were 25 females and 31 males aged 9-85 (mean age: 35 years). 35 free flaps (31 on to feet, 2 on to tibial stumps and 2 on to contralateral forearm) and 4 pedicled flaps (on to the head) were transferred to distal body regions. Two of them included a part of the vascularized radius. The same upper extremity was covered with 19 pedicled radial forearm flaps (13 with retrograde blood flow). Six of them were osteo-fascio-cutaneous flaps. After harvesting 52 flaps (in 50 patients), the donor sites were covered with full or split thickness skin grafts. In 5 cases the donor sites were sutured, and in one case local V-Y plasty was used. In 11 cases the following complications were observed at the donor sites: delayed healing of the wound for more than 6 weeks in 4 cases;--chronic vascular insufficiency in 1 case;--dysesthesias on the dorsal part of the hand in 3 cases;--periodical pain and oedema of the hand in 2 cases;--unacceptable hypertrophic scar in 1 case. No acute ischemia of the hand, no fracture of the radial bone, and no neuroma of the sensory branch of the radial nerve were observed at the donor site.