Laser Doppler perfusion imaging of the radial forearm flap: a clinical study.

Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) allows non-invasive assessment of blood flow in a predefined area of skin rather than at one single point. We have used LDPI to study the pattern of skin blood flow in the radial forearm flap before and after the flap has been raised. The data were collected from a consecutive series of 11 patients with cancer of the oral cavity or oropharynx in whom the radial forearm flap had been used during the reconstructive procedure. Reperfusion leads to an immediate hyperaemic response both in the flap and the surrounding skin. This hyperaemia remains for at least the first 30 minutes after reperfusion. The perfusion of the radial side of the forearm skin distal to the flap is significantly lower than that on the ulnar side after the skin island has been raised and the distal artery divided. We suggest that LDPI is useful for monitoring the perfusion of free skin flaps.