[Repair of widely infected scalp defect and osteomyelitis with free radial forearm flap: a case report].

A 60-year-old female was admitted with large frontal scalp defect associated with osteomyelitis due to chronic infection. Debridement of the infected scalp and frontal bone and the transplantation of the free radial forearm flap with vascular anastomosis was carried out. The wound cured uneventfully. Cranioplasty was performed ten months after the first operation. Transplantation of free radial forearm flap was first reported in 1982 by Song in China and has proved to be a very effective operative method, especially for the repair of large infected wounds. This is because good blood supply results from the anastomosis of larger vessels, and its cleansing effects can eradicate infections and prompt rapid wound healing.