Coverage of Donor Site Defect of Radial Forearm Free Flap by using Terudermis(R).

Lee, Jun Sung; Lee, Jong Wook; Burm, Jin Sik; Jang, Young Chul; Ha, Ji Woon

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2001;28(4):357-361.
Published online July 1, 2001.

Coverage of Donor Site Defect of Radial Forearm Free Flap by using Terudermis(R).

Jun Sung Lee, Jong Wook Lee, Jin Sik Burm, Young Chul Jang, Ji Woon Ha

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Choonchon Sacred Heart Hospital.
²Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital.
³Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital.

Abstract

Split-thickness skin grafting is commonly used to cover donor site defect of radial forearm free flap. One of disadvantages in this method is contour reflection of underlying structures (tendons and muscles) with irregularity which was caused by incomplete soft tissue replacement, and we called it 'silhouette phenomenon'. To promote soft tissue replacement, we have used Terudermis(R) (atelocollagen). In 10 cases of radial forearm free flap surgery of 10 patients, Terudermis(R) was applied on flap donor site just after flap surgery, followed by split-thickness skin grafting for resurfacing after 2 weeks. In all cases, Terudermis(R) and skin graft were taken well with no complications such as skin necrosis and loss. We successfully overcame silhouette phenomenon in all cases in the follow-up period of mean 8 months. Terudermis(R) , as a tissue-restoring biomaterial, is expected to be easily used for coverage of donor site defect of radial forearm free flap.

Keywords: Radial forearm free flap; Flap donor site; Silhouette phenomenon; Terudermis(R)