Creating two independent fasciocutaneous free flaps from a single-radial forearm donor site

The authors describe the creation of two independent fasciocutaneous free f lap units from a single radial forearm donor site. After the radial forearm flap is elevated in the standard manner, based on the entire length of the radial artery, the individual flap units are developed as island flaps bas ed on the proximal and the distal radial artery respectively by transecting the radial artery, its accompanying veins, and the cephalic vein. Thus, tw o independent radial forearm free flaps are created from a single donor sit e: The proximal one has antegrade flow and the distal one has retrograde fl ow. The individual free flap units were transferred, and microvascular anas tomoses were performed simultaneously by two surgical teams. This technique was used in 2 patients presenting with bilateral foot defects that require d reconstruction with a thin, reliable flap such as the radial forearm flap .