THE DISTALLY BASED ULNAR ARTERY FOREARM FLAP SUPPLIED BY THE DORSAL CARPAL ARCH

It is accepted that the ulnar artery forearm flap is dependent on the integrity of the palmar arches for ulnar arterial backflow and the pat ency of both radial and ulnar arteries. A patient is presented who dem onstrates the successful use of the ulnar artery forearm flap supplied by the dorsal carpal arch via the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery. In this patient, the ulnar artery was damaged distal to the dorsal bra nch of the ulnar artery. A distally based ulnar forearm was dissected up to the dorsal branch of the ulnar artery and pivoted around this br anch. This flap survived completely with no postoperative problem.