Venous flow-through flap as an external monitor for buried radial forearm free flap in head and neck reconstruction

Abstract

Postoperative monitoring of buried free flaps in head and neck reconstruction can be extremely difficult or impossible. The authors describe a series of 11 cases over a 21-month period, of buried radial forearm free flaps used in head and neck reconstruction. To monitor the main buried flap a small venous flow-through flap is supplied by and attached to the cephalic vein of a radial forearm free flap. This small venous skin flap is inset separately from the main paddle, so that it is visible at the external surface of the neck, furnishing information about the perfusion of the entire flap.