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J Hand Microsurg 2015; 07(01): 87-90
DOI: 10.1007/s12593-015-0184-4
Original Article
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Cephalic Vein-Pedicled Radial Forearm Semi-free Flap: An Alternative When no Suitable Vein in Recipient Site for Free Forearm Flap

Lei Zheng
1   Department of Orthopedics, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, People’s Republic of China   Email: lzheng@kleinertkutz.com
2   Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery, the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center, and the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine,University of Louisville, 225 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 850, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
,
Zhonggen Dong
3   Department of Orthopedics, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People’s Republic of China
,
Jia Zheng
1   Department of Orthopedics, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, People’s Republic of China   Email: lzheng@kleinertkutz.com
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Further Information

Publication History

29 January 2015

13 May 2015

Publication Date:
13 September 2016 (online)

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Abstract

The risk of venous thrombosis is the main factor of free forearm flap necrosis. In some cases there is no suitable vein at recipient site to provide venous return of the free flap. In this report, two cephalic vein-pedicled radial forearm semi-free flaps were used as an alternative to resurface soft tissue defects in submaxilla and anterior cervical area. The two flaps survived uneventfully. The cephalic vein-pedicled radial forearm semi-free flap could be harvested with a long cephalic vein pedicle, and could be an alternative when there was no suitable or healthy recipient veins at recipient site.

Keywords

Cephalic vein - Radial forearm flap - Reconstruction
 

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