Radial forearm flap in reconstruction following surgery for head and neck cancers

The forearm flap developed in China provided a most useful addition to the field of head and neck reconstruction. Because of its thin and pliable components, long and large caliber pedicle vessels and reliable vascularity, etc., we prefer to use the microvascular transfer of this flap for reconstruction of oral, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal regions following cancer ablation and recognize further evidence of the versatility of this flap. In this paper, we describe the techniques of forearm flap transfer and the results of 37 cases experienced between March, 1983 and October, 1984.