Annals of plastic surgery
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Annals of plastic surgery · Oct 1996
Case ReportsUse of a monitor muscle flap in buried free forearm flap transfer.
The free forearm flap is a reliable and versatile tool in head and neck reconstruction. However, the patency of the microvascular anastomosis is difficult to monitor when the flap is buried in the reconstruction of the esophagus or orbital floor. We used a portion of forearm muscle on a branch of the radial artery and vein as a monitor flap. ⋯ Monitor muscle flaps are raised easily during elevation of the forearm flap. This technique was used successfully in 5 patients. This monitoring method provides a simple and reliable assessment of viability when direct monitoring of the forearm flap is not possible.