Dimensional Guide to Harvesting the Radius for Orofacial Reconstruction
Wandee Apinhasmit DDS, PhD*, Supin Chompoopong MS, PhD**, Dolly Methathrathip DDS*, Nutchaya Amornmettajit BEd**
Affiliation : * Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok ** Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Objective : To provide an accurate harvesting guide to maintain the maximum possible safe dimensions of the
radius for orofacial reconstruction using the osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap.
Material and Method: Two hundred radii of 100 adult formalin-embalmed cadavers (52 males, 48 females)
were measured.
Results : The mean minimum circumference of the radius measured between the pronator teres and
brachioradialis insertions was 41.0 + 4.3 mm. At this point, the mean medio-lateral diameter was 13.4 + 1.6
mm. The mean of the maximum harvested length of the radius between the pronator teres and brachioradialis
insertions was 81.3 + 10.4 mm. On the average, the maximum harvested length of the radius was 34.9% of its
total length. The minimum medio-lateral diameter of the radius was consistently 1-5 mm less than 40% of its
minimum circumference. There was no significant dimensional difference between sides but gender difference
existed in all measurements (p < 0.001), except the maximum harvested length of the radius.
Conclusion : The present study may be helpful to guide reconstructive surgeons for safer harvesting of the
radius using the osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap to repair orofacial defects.
Keywords : Radius, Osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap, Dimension, Orofacial reconstruction
