Fascial flaps based on perforators for reconstruction of defects in the distal forearm

Twenty fascial flaps were used in the reconstruction of defects in the dist al forearm, wrist and hand in 18 patients over a 2-year period. In 16 patie nts the fascial flaps were based on a single fascial feeding vessel or 'per forator' arising from the anterior interosseous artery and/or ulnar artery when the radial artery had been used as the donor vessel in free flap recon struction elsewhere in the body. There was no loss of ally fascial flap in the study. The use of fascial flaps based on fascial feeders of the anterio r interosseous and ulnar arteries extends the range of fascial flaps that c an be raised in the forearm for reconstruction of defects in the distal for earm, wrist and hand. (C) 1999 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.