IMMEDIATE FULL-THICKNESS FACIAL DEFECTS RECONSTRUCTION USING THE RADIAL FOREARM FREE-FLAP

The restoration of composite tissue defects of the oral cavity involvi ng skin and mucosa remains a difficult problem for reconstructive surg eons. A method for immediate one-stage reconstruction of combined intr aoral and facial defects with the radial forearm free flap is describe d. Four patients operated on between July and December of 1991 for adv anced squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity involving oral mucosa, sk in and in two cases the mandible were reconstructed with a radial fore arm flap to obtain reconstruction of facial and intraoral mucosa. The area of the fold is deepithelialized to be sutured to adjacent tissue.