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Reverse lateral upper arm flaps for treating large soft tissue defects extending from the elbow to the forearm
Hideki Okamoto1, Yohei Kawaguchi1, Shinji Miwa2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Nagoya City, Japan.
Case Reports in Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery
|May 23, 2022
Summary
Reverse lateral upper arm flaps successfully treated large elbow-to-forearm tissue defects in three patients. The flaps survived, enabling sufficient recovery of elbow motion.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Microsurgery
Background:
- Large tissue defects in the elbow and forearm present significant reconstructive challenges.
- Traditional methods may have limitations in achieving adequate coverage and functional recovery.
Observation:
- Three cases involving extensive tissue defects from the elbow to the forearm were analyzed.
- Reverse lateral upper arm flaps were employed for reconstruction in all cases.
Findings:
- The utilized flap sizes ranged from 17 × 7 cm to 20 × 7 cm.
- Complete flap survival was achieved in all three cases.
- Sufficient recovery of elbow joint motion was observed post-operatively.
Implications:
- Reverse lateral upper arm flaps are a viable option for reconstructing large defects in the elbow-forearm region.
- This technique facilitates functional restoration and improves patient outcomes.
- Further research could explore long-term functional results and expand indications.
