Treatment of wound healing disorders of radial forearm free flap donor sites using cold atmospheric plasma. A proof of concept

Publication date: Available online 24 August 2016
Source:Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): Stefan Hartwig, Christian Doll, Jan Oliver Voss, Moritz Hertel, Saskia Preissner, Jan Dirk Raguse
BackgroundThe treatment of wound healing disturbances of the radial forearm free flap donor site following reconstructive surgery is often long, burdensome and often requires additional surgery. Cold atmospheric plasma is a promising approach to overcome these impairments. The aim of this proof of concept was to evaluate the clinical outcome of plasma irradiation in patients suffering from wound healing disorders with exposed brachial tendons of the radial forearm.Patients and methodsFour patients (mean age: 64.2 years, range: 44–80 years) who had undergone radial forearm free flap procedures, suffering from wound healing disturbance leading to exposed flexor tendons, were included in this prospective case series. In addition to routine wound care, all sites were irradiated with cold atmospheric plasma. The primary outcome variable was complete wound closure.ResultsIn all patients complete wound repair in terms of absence of tendon exposure was observed within a mean treatment time of 10.1 weeks (range: 4.9–16 weeks). No undesirable side effects were observed and no inflammation or infection occurred.ConclusionCold atmospheric plasma might offer a reliable conservative treatment option for complicated wound healing disturbances, here exemplarily shown in case of radial forearm free flap donor site morbidity with exposed flexor tendons.



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