Donor Site Recovery Of Forearm Free Flap After Operation:Comparison Of Two Different Coverage Techniques

Objective: To compare the recovery of forearm donor area after radial operation of two types of forearm skin flaps.Methods: A review of44 patients in our hospital who used free forearm flaps to repair postoperative defects due to oral and maxillofacial tumors.These flaps were made by the same senior doctor.According to the method of making the flap,it is divided into a modified forearm flap（group A）hereinafter referred to as the modified group,and a traditional forearm flap（group B）hereinafter referred to as the traditional group,followed up for half a year and one year after the operation.According to the operation time of the flap preparation,the skin area,the complications of the forearm donor area within one month after operation,the scar（Pigmentation,vascular distribution,flexibility and height,and overall score）and function of the forearm donor area were compared,and the statistical analysis was performed using the spss 19.0 software package.Results: In the modified group and the traditional group,the flap preparation time,age,and skin area P values were 0.917,0.690,and 0.771,respectively.There was no difference in postoperative complications within one month between the two groups;half a year after surgery,the two groups A and B were in Vancouver Scar Scale（VSS）: scars were pigmented,blood vessel distribution,flexibility and height,total score;There was no statistical difference in the function,symptoms and total score of Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire（DASH）.The P values were 0.268,0.40,0.373,0.117,0.122,0.514,0.112,0.187,0.268,0.40,0.373,0.117,0.122;One year after surgery,the two groups A and B had no statistical significance in the above aspects.The P values were 0.375,0.230,0.160,0.149,0.324,0.372,0.540,0.127.Conclusion: There is no difference between the improved group and the traditional group in the recovery of donor area.However,the modified group avoided the need for the third group to open up the traditional surgical area,reducing the surgical trauma,patient pain and additional scars.