A Cadaveric Anatomy Study of the Shape-Modified Radial Forearm Flap

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Anatomy

Background:

• The shape-modified radial forearm flap (SMRFF) is a reconstructive technique with limited widespread adoption.
• Understanding its anatomical feasibility is crucial for expanding its clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the hand subunits and their combinations that can be reconstructed using the SMRFF.
• To investigate the anatomical characteristics of the SMRFF for hand defect reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical dissection of 10 injected cadaveric forearms.
• Detailed recording of radial pedicle length, perforator number and location, and flap dimensions.
• Evaluation of SMRFF's reach for various hand subunits and subunit combinations.

Main Results:

• The SMRFF effectively covered the dorsum, palm, and first webspace, including combined palmar subunits.
• Mean radial pedicle length was 19.3 cm, with an average of 6.3 septocutaneous perforators per artery.
• Mean flap surface area was 98.4 cm², with specific measurements for proximal, middle, and distal paddles.

Conclusions:

• The SMRFF demonstrates significant versatility for reconstructing diverse hand subunit defects.
• Detailed anatomical measurements support the SMRFF as a valuable and adaptable tool in hand surgery.