Reconstruction of forearm soft tissue defects with radial artery perforator-pedicled propeller flaps

Abstract

The radial forearm flap is one of the most versatile flaps used in reconstructive surgery with many advantages, such as reliable vascularity, pliable skin, hairlessness, potential sensibility, and ease of dissection. However, it has two major drawbacks, including the sacrifice of the radial artery and donor site scarring. With the advent of perforator surgery, the radial artery perforator flap may be raised without compromising the main trunk of the radial artery. In 1991, Hykosoku et al. 1 Hyakusoku H. Yamamoto T. Fumiiri M. The propeller flap method. Br J Plast Surg. 1991; 44: 53-54 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (215) Google Scholar first described the propeller flap technique that has been proven to be a very useful reconstructive modality. In this article, we present our experiences with forearm soft tissue defect reconstruction using the radial artery perforator-pedicled propeller (RAPPP) flap.