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Updated: Jul 23, 2025
Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
The lateral forearm flap versus traditional upper extremity flaps: A comparison of donor site morbidity and flap
Sara Danker1, John W Shuck1, Ahmed Taher2
1Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Introduction:
The lateral forearm flap (LFF) is a thin fasciocutaneous flap with a donor site that can be closed primarily.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of donor site morbidity and hand function was performed in patients who underwent a radial forearm flap (RFF), ulnar artery perforator flap (UAPF), or LFF. Flap thickness was evaluated radiographically in 50 control patients.
Results:
Of 134 patients (lateral forearm flap: n = 49, RFF: n = 47, UAPF: n = 38), the LFF demonstrated significantly faster return to baseline hand grip strength (3 months vs. 12 months in RFF and UAPF; p < 0.001), had significantly fewer donor site complications (6.1% compared to 6.4% in RFF and 28.9% in UAPF; p = 0.003) and fewer sensory deficits (2.0% compared to 6.4% in RFF and 15.8% in UAPF sites; p = 0.013). The radiographic study confirmed the LFF to be the thinnest of all upper extremity flap options.
Conclusions:
The LFF is an excellent forearm-based flap option with thin, pliable tissue and low donor site morbidity.
