Improving the donor site of the radial forearm flap

Since its introduction (Yang et al., 1981; Song et al., 1982), the radial forearm flap has proved to be one of the safest and most versatile free flaps. However, the donor defect is significant and an otherwise excellent result is often impaired by a poor graft take over the exposed flexor carpi radialis tendon, even when great care has been taken to preserve its paratenon. This results in delayed healing, with frequent dressing changes, and often produces an area that is later prone to breakdown following minor trauma. The authors would like to present their method of preventing these complications, which the senior author has been using for two years but which we have not seen previously used or reported.