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Can forearm flaps be selected by use of color-flow duplex Doppler scanning?

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Abstract

Color-flow pulsed duplex Doppler technology was used on 54 arteries in 27 healthy adult volunteers to determine dominance between radial and ulnar arteries. Volumetric flow (cc/s), flow velocity rates (cm/2), and vessel areas (mm2) were investigated to calculate vessel dominance. Although there were some problems in five cases, 22 cases have had an absolute dominance of one artery over the other (81%). Of these, 14 cases were ulnar dominant and eight cases were radial dominant. This study proposes that the transcutaneous, noninvasive color-flow Doppler scanning makes it possible to determine the dominance of wrist arteries and helps the surgeon choose the less detrimental flap to the hand circulation before the planning of pedicled or free forearm fasciocutaneous flaps.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Social Security Hospital, Buca, Izmir, Turkey

    E. Tuğsell

  2. Department of Radiology, Social Security Hospital, Buca, Izmir, Turkey

    Y. Aşsikoglu

Authors
  1. E. Tuğsell
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  2. Y. Aşsikoglu
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Tuğsell, E., Aşsikoglu, Y. Can forearm flaps be selected by use of color-flow duplex Doppler scanning?. Eur J Plast Surg 20, 297–299 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01387854

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