Limitations of the Modified Allen’s Test for Preoperative Vascular Assessment

초록

Background: The modified Allen’s test (MAT) is commonly used to evaluate collateral circulation before radial forearm free flap harvest, but its reliability as a predictor of vascular dominance is uncertain. Objective: This study examined whether MAT results correlate with arterial diameters on computed tomography angiography (CTA) and assessed its value in evaluating distal forearm circulation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent radial forearm free flap reconstruction between September 2012 and April 2023 with preoperative CTA. Radial and ulnar artery diameters were measured at the distal radioulnar joint, and MAT results were recorded as capillary refill time. Correlation between vessel size and MAT outcome was analyzed. Results: Fourty-one patients (mean age, 59.7 years; 32 men, 9 women) were included. The radial artery was significantly larger than the ulnar artery bilaterally (P < 0.001