Optimising oral cancer reconstruction: A retrospective cohort study on the modified radial forearm free flap technique for eliminating secondary donor site utilisation

The increasing prevalence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer1 –3 has led to an increase in the use of microvascular free flaps for reliable and anatomically accurate orofacial reconstruction4–5. Since its introduction in the 1980s, the vascularised radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has become a widely used method for reconstructing orofacial soft tissues fol lowing tumour ablation, with flap survival rates between 90% and 98.3%6–8. However, harvesting the radial artery can lead to hand ischemia and reduced functionality9–10, and damage to the sensory branch of the radial nerve can result in diminished grip strength and loss of sensation11–12.
Source: The British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research