Radial Forearm Donor Site Closure

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Oral Cancer, Oral Cavity Cancer, Donor Site Complication

In brief

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is widely used in head and neck reconstruction. Its thinness, pliability, pedicle length, and vessel size are particularly suited for oropharyngeal and oral cavity reconstruction. Concerns about aesthetic and functional morbidity at the donor site have given rise to various techniques of closing the donor site, two of which are the split-thickness skin graft (STSG), taken from the thigh, and the hatchet flap, which uses a local flap within the radial forearm. This RCT will determine whether retrospectively reported improvements to aesthetic and functional outcomes for STSG patients are greater compared to hatchet flap patients.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05740033

Run by

University of British Columbia

People needed

120

Starts

2023-02-01

Expected to finish

2025-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-06-12

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adults aged 18 or older
• Oral cavity disease (malignant or benign) requiring radial forearm free flap reconstruction

You may not qualify if…

• Serious medical comorbidities including metastatic disease or other contraindications to surgery
• Any pre-existing condition affecting the use of both hands, including previous major scars
• Unable or unwilling to complete post-operative questionnaires in English
• Pregnant or lactating women

Where it is running

• Vancouver General Hospital — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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