lateral arm free flap

초록

Lateral arm flaps (LAF) have been commonly used for soft-tissue reconstruction since 1982. The LAF, a recognized versatile transfer with very low donor site morbidity, can be harvested from the same operating field of digital skin loss, using axillary block anesthesia. Use of this flap results in minimal esthetical damage without any major arterial sacrifice. Furthermore, its modification as a ‘‘distal’’ LAF allows harvesting of a very thin and pliable skin paddle from the lateral aspect of the proximal forearm, which seems to be most suitable for resurfacing of the thin area, such as the dorsum of the hand and digits. Advantages over other flap alternatives are that it is versatile, it includes a constant and reliable vascular anatomy, and a major vascular structure of the forearm is not sacrificed. These flaps have superseded the use of random flaps and radial forearm flaps for upper extremity defects with similar size. On the other hand, performing the flap requires experience in microsurgical technique and is not suitable in the elderly and debilitated patients, as with other free flaps. The LAF is a versatile transfer for resurfacing small to middle-sized defects mainly in the hand and upper limb. The LAF can also be used as a sensate flap when the posterior cutaneous nerve of the upper arm. In 2015, I published the paper about ” Lateral Arm Free Flap with Preservation of the Posterior Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve”. I described for the first time about posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve (PABCN)-sparing lateral arm free flap, the SB of the PABCN, and sensation to the flap may be provided by the SN of the PABCN. This LAF nourishes by a single constant pedicle, posterior radial collateral artery and a terminal branch of profunda brachii. After crossing the radial nerve while runni