The neurofasciocutaneous radial forearm flap in head and neck reconstruction: a preliminary report

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 sensate flaps are reviewed in detail.