RADIAL FOREARM FLAPS

Restoration of oral cavity and pharyngeal function following ablative surgery remains an elusive goal. Conventional reconstructive methods o ften achieve satisfactory wound healing, but the introduction of a dyn amic anesthetic and bulky flaps into the oral cavity can interfere wit h the function of the residual soft tissues. This article examines the anatomy, harvest technique, and applicability of neurosensory radial forearm flaps to head and neck reconstruction with special attention t o the attributes of this donor site which, at present, make the radial forearm flap the flap of choice for the reconstruction of a variety o f oral cavity and pharyngeal defects.