Use of an external brachial flap in the reconstruction of the upper limb. Apropos of 11 cases

During the last three years, eleven lateral upper arm flaps were used in the reconstruction of skin defects of the upper limb. These flaps were applied: 7 times on the hand; 2 times on the fore-arm; 2 times on the elbow. Ten flaps had a free transfer, one was vascularised by the distal pedicle. In 4 cases we used an emergency free transfer in the treatment of a traumatic defect. In the other cases the flaps were used in the treatment of post-traumatic sequelae such as contracture and/or osteitis. The series contains 10 fascio-cutaneous flaps and 1 osteo-cutaneous flap. We had one failure with an emergency free flap, salvaged without further sequelae by means of a groin flap. The proximity of the donor site in an upper limb reconstruction makes the lateral upper arm flap a good alternative when a pedicle locoregional flap cannot be used due to a lesion of its pedicle in the mechanism of the trauma.