50 CONSECUTIVE FREE FLAPS IN A NEW MICROSURGICAL UNIT

Fifty free flap operations in 49 patients were performed in Oulu Unive rsity Central Hospital during a three year period. The patients' ages ranged from 15 to 83 years; mean 41 years. The indication for the oper ation was malignant tumor in 19 cases, benign tumor in one case, traum a in 28 cases and congenital anomaly in 2 cases. The radial forearm fl ap was used in 36 cases; latissimus dorsi in 7 cases; lateral arm, rec tus abdominis, and fibula in two cases; and second toe in one case. Fo rty-nine of the fifty flaps were successful (98%); two venous thrombos es were successfully revised. Starting microsurgery in a new unit is d emanding but also rewarding due to the good results. (C) 1994 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.