[Radial forearm flap. Its versatile application in plastic surgery reconstruction of the head and neck]

The radial forearm flap is a versatile tissue transfer in the head and neck. It can be raised either from the distal or the proximal aspect of the volar forearm, and can also include the whole volar forearm skin. The flap is ideal for reconstruction of superficial defects in the head and neck, for the pharynx and oral cavity, as well as for skin defects of the face and the neck. The distal flap is thin and pliant due to the small amount of subcutaneous tissue and the fairly long vascular pedicle. A proximal flap is more bulky due to subcutaneous fat. Since the vascular pedicle of the distal flap is very long, it can also be anastomosed in the contralateral neck. Different applications and indications for the tissue transfer of the radial forearm flap are presented.