Ischaemic complications 20 years after harvesting of a radial forearm flap in a patient with scleroderma

Abstract

We present the case of a 67-year-old woman with scleroderma who had progressive necrosis of the finger together with severe pain 20 years after harvesting of a radial forearm flap. After reconstruction of the radial artery the ulceration of her right middle finger healed spontaneously within a month, and the pain disappeared.

Key Words::

• Radial forearm flap
• ischemic complication
• scleroderma

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor WA Morrison, Director of the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, Melbourne, Australia, for his advice in preparing this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.